Correlation does not show cause and affect! These types of longitudinal studies used in WHO determination, 800 to be exact, does not indicate anything except a possible link. By WHO own estimate, approx. 34,000 colon/rectal cancer deaths per year worldwide can be attributed to diets that are high in processed meat. This number is minuscule vs. the 8.2 million cancer deaths in 2012 alone. The take away is simple, eat a balance diet, maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and please don't smoke.