Following the recent publication of the World Health Organisations report stating that processed meats can cause cancer, sales of pre-packed sausages and bacon are down. This is according to the latest retail data from global insight specialist IRI.

During the last week of October and the first week of November 2015, total losses for sausages and bacon alone were estimated to be in the region of £3 million over the two weeks.

According to IRIs figures, value sales for pre-packed sausages were down 15.7% for w/e 31 October compared to the same week the previous year, despite a 12-week decline of 5.6% and 52-week decline of 3.1%. Pre-packed bacon saw even sharper declines, down 17%, despite a 12-week decline of 6.5% and 52-week decline of 5.6%. This equates to an incremental fall in sales of about 10% due to the scare, says IRI.