A study of half a million people across Europe suggests daily diet including equivalent to two sausages and a slice of bacon is linked to increased risk of dying young.

Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: “There’s a clear link between eating too much processed meat and bowel cancer, but this study suggests that cutting down on these meats could also reduce the risk of dying prematurely.

There’s no need to abandon meat altogether, but if you eat a lot of processed meat it’s worth cutting down by eating smaller and fewer portions or eating fish, poultry or beans instead.”