Whole, unprocessed red meat has a different nutritional profile compared to processed red meat, and this distinction should be maintained in assessments of health risks associated with red meat consumption.

Study: Associations of processed meat and unprocessed red meat intake with incident diabetes: the Strong Heart Family Study.

The study found that eating processed meats like spam increased diabetes risk, but eating regular red meat did not. This shows they aren't the same when it comes to health, which supports the claim.

Study: Processed and Unprocessed Red Meat and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: Analysis by Tumor Location and Modification by Time

The study found that processed meat increases the risk of certain cancers, but unprocessed red meat does not—and may even be linked to lower risk in some areas. This shows they aren't the same when it comes to health, which supports keeping them separate in dietary advice.

Study: Abstract 4346313: Unprocessed Red and Processed Meat and Alternative Protein Sources in Relation to Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Pooled Analysis of 1.7 million Participants

The study looked at both unprocessed red meat (like steak) and processed meat (like bacon) and found both were linked to higher heart disease risk, so it doesn’t support the idea that unprocessed meat is much safer.

Study: Estimated effects of reductions in processed meat consumption and unprocessed red meat consumption on occurrences of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, and mortality in the USA: a microsimulation study.

The study found that eating less unprocessed red meat, like beef or pork, was linked to fewer cases of diabetes and heart disease—just like processed meat. This goes against the idea that unprocessed red meat is much healthier and shouldn't be grouped with processed meats.