HEALTH REPORT -July 10, 2002: Acrylamide in Fried Foods
By Nancy Steinbach
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
Twenty-three international health experts say they are concerned about the possible health effects of a harmful
chemical found in some popular foods.
The experts made the announcement at the end of a recent meeting of the World Health Organization in Geneva,
Switzerland. The W-H-O and the Food and Agriculture Organization called the meeting to examine the results of
earlier studies of the chemical, acrylamide (a-KRILL-a-mide). Acrylamide causes cancer in laboratory animals.
There is no proof that it causes cancer in humans. However, it is known to damage the human nervous system.
In April, Swedish scientists found high levels of acrylamide in several kinds of carbohydrate foods that are fried
or baked at high temperatures. They include French fried potatoes, potato chips, crackers, breakfast cereals and
bread. Millions of people around the world eat these foods.
Sweden’s National Food Administration tested more than one-hundred different kinds of
carbohydrate foods. It found that a bag of potato chips contained five -hundred times more
acrylamide than is considered safe by the W-H-O. Researchers also tested French fried
potatoes from an American fast-food eating place. They found one-hundred times the safe limit
of acrylamide. They also found high levels of the chemical in some cereals. Similar results
were found in later studies done in Norway, Britain, Switzerland, Germany and the United
States.
These results led the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization to
call the meeting in Geneva. The experts at the meeting called the situation a serious problem.
They urged the food industry to reduce levels of acrylamide in their products. But they said more study is needed
to find out the risk from foods containing acrylamide. They want to create a group that will examine the results of
all the studies from governments, universities and industries around the world.
The scientists said they did not have enough information to warn people not to eat foods containing acrylamide.
But they said people should eat a balanced diet with more fruits and vegetables and limited amounts of fatty and
fried foods.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Nancy Steinbach.
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