There have been claims that the smoke created when food burns could be more harmful than the actual burned food.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organization (WHO) division, categorizes carcinogens into Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. Certain substances are clearly linked to cancer. Tobacco, radiation, radon, and asbestos dust are all considered Group 1 carcinogens. However, most carcinogens have not been thoroughly studied, making it difficult to determine their risk.
The WHO has designated benzopyrene, a chemical created when meat or fish is grilled or burned at high temperatures, as a Group 1 carcinogen. According to the European Food Safety Authority, you need to consume roughly two tons of benzopyrene every day to get cancer. However, you should exercise caution because smoking can raise your risk of lung cancer. “Food service workers and cooks should be conscientious as the risk of benzopyrene generation increases as more oil is used at high temperatures,” said Professor Lee Se Hoon of Samsung Seoul Hospital.
Consuming 100g of red meat per day raises the risk of colon cancer by 17%, according to the WHO, which categorizes it as a Group 2 carcinogen. However, there is currently a dearth of extensive human research, and this is a result based on animal testing. Koreans currently consume 89.7g of meat per day on average.
Group 1 carcinogens include processed meats like bacon, sausage, and ham. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, consuming 50g of processed meat per day can raise the risk of colon cancer by 18%. However, the analysis reveals that Koreans consume 6g of processed meat daily, so there is no reason for concern.
Hot beverages are classified as Group 2 carcinogens. According to an IARC study, drinking hot tea over 65 degrees Celsius increases the risk of esophageal cancer by 8 times. However, many experts argue that this designation as a carcinogen is excessive. The significant risk factors for esophageal cancer are known to be alcohol, tobacco, and chronic reflux esophagitis.
Coffee, French fries, potato chips, and sweet potato fries all contain acrylamide, a class 2 carcinogen. The first research findings suggesting that it might be hazardous to humans were released in 2002. High acrylamide concentrations have been shown in animal experiments to cause cancer, but the connection to humans is still unclear. “The WHO’s classification of class 2 carcinogens does not have a clear causal relationship, and since over 90% of elderly people in Korea do not consume enough animal protein, there is no need to be overly sensitive to the WHO standards,” added Professor Kwon Hoon Jung of Seoul National University.
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