A longstanding controversy about whether a diet rich in meat increases the risk of cancer has been fuelled by preliminary results from major studies in Europe and Australia.

The findings, suggesting that some meat lovers are at increased risk of bowel cancer, are not yet published and were presented in Sydney this week at the first Australasian conference on nutrition, physical activity, and cancer.

The conference also sparked concerns about ongoing efforts by vested interests to influence nutrition debate.

An industry group, Meat and Livestock Australia, suggested British researcher Professor Michael Hill as a keynote speaker, and offered to pay his travel …