It’s not just the author, he is quoting the FSA. The FSA is sowing doubt when according to research there may be some doubt about red meats, but for processed meats, there really is none:

Red meat is classified as a Group 2A carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization. Group 2A means “probably carcinogenic to humans,” based on limited evidence from human studies but strong evidence from biological mechanisms that explain how it could cause cancer. This puts red meat one tier below “confirmed” carcinogens like tobacco and processed meat, but it does not mean red meat is harmless or that the risk is purely theoretical.

This article is about red meats but it mentions cured meats as well.