Acrylamide

Nutritionist, Dr Rosemary Stanton, discussed the latest scare linking commonly available processed foods with cancer. Recent research shows that when carbohydrate foods are baked or fried at high temperatures, particularly if they are overcooked or double fried, a substance called acrylamide is formed. Acrylamide causes stomach and bowel cancer in rats, but it's not known how much humans would need to consume for it to be harmful. However, as bowel cancer is very common in Australia, any chemical in food that might be hazardous needs thorough investigation.

Alarm bells

Swedish researchers were the first to find acrylamide in chips, crisps, biscuits and processed cereals that were baked at high temperatures. British researchers confirmed the Swedish claims. Overcooking and double frying cause the highest levels. Cancer experts say that more research is needed, but in the meantime it's important not to ignore the good evidence we already have about diet and cancer.

Rosemary's recommendations

Follow the principles of an anti-cancer diet; Avoid foods known to increase the risk of many cancers: saturated fats from fried foods and fatty meats, and too much alcohol.Choose foods known to reduce the risk: vegetables, fruit, oats and other wholegrain foods, fish and nuts. Eat a variety of healthy foods so you never consume too much of any harmful chemical. Remember, with foods it's quantity that matters - eating chips occasionally or the odd biscuit is unlikely to cause problems.

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