As early as five years ago, research indicated that fried foods cooked at high temperatures contain the carcinogen acrylamide. A recent large-scale study in the Netherlands even found that acrylamide doubles the risk of cancer in women. The EU recommends minimizing the consumption of such foods.
Early research confirmed that foods such as bread, cereal, coffee, meat, and potatoes cooked by frying, baking, grilling, or roasting contain acrylamide, which is believed to be the cause of carcinogenesis. This new study found a direct link between acrylamide and female cancers such as ovarian and uterine cancer. Women who consume more acrylamide, for example, the equivalent of half a pack of cookies or a bag of potato chips per day, have twice the chance of developing these cancers compared to those who consume less of these foods. [美食中国]
Therefore, the EU has advised reducing the intake of foods like toast, potato chips, and french fries, or opting to cook at home, and consuming fewer processed foods or fast food, as they contain higher levels of acrylamide. The UK's Food Standards Agency has also welcomed this report and urged the public to heed the EU's advice. However, a spokesperson for the agency noted that it is very difficult to completely avoid acrylamide in daily life, as many foods contain it. With a healthy and balanced diet, exposure to this substance is unavoidable. [美食中国]
The study involved 120,000 people aged 55 to 70, with approximately half being women. They were first given questionnaires about their dietary habits, and then their health status was followed up. After 11 years, 327 people had developed uterine cancer and 300 had developed ovarian cancer.