Karl loses it after parents told to ditch ham from lunch boxes in controversial note

The Today presenter has lashed a controversial note that called on parents to ditch the humble staple from lunch boxes due to health concerns.

The humble ham sandwich has come under attack, after the Cancer Council warned parents to ditch the lunch box favourite.

A directive distributed to parents of public school students asked them to avoid giving their children the processed meat, due to suggestions the food that can increase risks for bowel cancer.

The ‘Nutrition Snippit’ memo called on parents and guardians to “ditch the ham sandwich” and seek healthy alternatives like cheese, hummus, BBQ chicken, or leftover home-cooked meat.

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The lunch box favourite could no longer Picture: iStock.

The instruction has caused controversy among parents, with pork producers, butchers and even politicians slamming the recommendation.

On Tuesday morning, Today host Karl Stefanovic expressed outrage over the “woke” warning.

“Come on,” he said. “Many poor producers and butchers have slammed the woke message as an over-reaction and we agree.

“What is happening to this country?”

Co-host Alison Langdon agreed and jokingly said: “Hands off our ham.”

School kids have been told to "ditch the ham sandwich" from their lunchboxes in a warning sent out by the Cancer Council. Pork producers have slammed the "politically correct" message as well as a previous memo encouraging kids to have a meat-free Monday. Is this too far? #9Todaypic.twitter.com/4Ze0q4Nx9j

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) May 2, 2022

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott agreed.

“It is a daily battle with people who just want to get into our lives, influence our opinions and tell us what we’re doing wrong,” said Mr Elliott, speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

“I’m a big fan of the Cancer Council … but you’re not doing yourselves any favours when you’re trying to tell families exactly what they can and cannot eat.”

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the owner of Bringelly Pork and Bacon, David Bligh said it was an impractical message and a sign that political correctness gone “a little bit too far”.

“Ham is actually a product which has been developed over the last 5000 years and people have eaten it through the ages without any problems,” he said.

“The levels of paranoia on this can be too great.”

Parents were told to consider alternative sandwich fillings. Picture: Cancer Council.

According to the World Health Organisation, processed meats likes ham, bacon, salami and frankfurts are classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. This means there’s “strong evidence” that they can cause cancer.

Red meat like beef, lamb and pork are also classified as a Group 2A carcinogen, which means it probably causes cancer.

“When a chemical in red meat called haem is broken down in the gut, N-nitroso chemicals are formed and these have been found to damage the cells that line the bowel, which can lead to bowel cancer,” a report from the Cancer Council states.

“These same chemicals also form when processed meat is digested.”

Nitrate and Nitrate preservatives used to prolong the life of processed meat also produces N-nitroso chemicals which can lead to bowel cancer.

Despite the notice from the Cancer Council, a spokeswoman for the NSW Department of Education confirmed the classic sandwich option would not be banned from school lunches.

“For many students, no lunch box is complete without a ham sandwich. No public school has banned these,” a spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph.