About 10 protestors lined Coastal Highway in Dewey April 27, holding signs and passing out information about the harmful effects of eating bacon as scores of people turned out for the annual Dewey-Rehoboth Bacon Fest.

Dr. Kerry Foley of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine spearheaded the protest.

In February, Foley sent a letter to Dewey Mayor TJ Redefer, Rehoboth Mayor Paul Kuhns and Delaware Secretary of Health and Social Services Kara Odom Walker, and urged them to cancel the festival or include a booth to educate attendees about the dangers of processed meat.

“I know that Dewey wouldn’t host a tobacco festival,” she said. “To me, this is the same thing.”

Foley said she received no response, although she offered to arrange the booth and provide materials. So, she said she organized the peaceful protest with fellow physicians and vegans, and passed out information on red and processed meats.

Foley said just one slice of bacon a day can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 20 percent. The American Cancer Society states colon cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer in Delaware, and 150 Delawareans will die from the disease this year.

Bacon Fest attendee Christian Newbold asked Foley why, among all the other problems in the world, she would focus on bacon.

Foley said the festival had bothered her for years. As a physician, she said, she decided to use her expertise to educate the public about health hazards associated with bacon.

“Red meat will kill you, but processed meat will kill you faster,” said the eight-year vegan. “There is no other food more closely associated with cancer than bacon.”

Several festival-goers stopped to speak with Foley, but the protest did not stop them from sampling tasty bacon creations from more than 20 Dewey and Rehoboth restaurants, and voting for their favorite dishes.

DiFebo’s was named Best Bacon on the Beach. In Dewey, Mexcali finished first, Dewey Beach Country Club finished second, and Chaps Pit Beef finished third. In Rehoboth, Salt Air finished first, G Rehoboth took second and Blackwall Hitch finished third.