Last Tuesday (28th), the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) warned of carcinogenic compounds in various foods. These chemicals are called nitrosamines, and they increase your risk of getting the disease and cause DNA damage.
Basically, nitrosamines are molecules that result from chemical reactions with amines and nitrites and are used to preserve food. The European Agency highlights the presence of these chemicals in foods such as cured meats, processed fish, cocoa, beer and other alcoholic beverages.
The main food group contributing to exposure to nitrosamines is meat and meat products. However, the agency warns that nitrosamines can also be found in other foods, including processed vegetables, grains, milk and milk products, or fermented, pickled, and seasoned foods.
According to experts, a balanced diet with a greater variety of foods can help consumers reduce their intake of nitrosamines.
EFSA examined the potential harm caused by nitrosamines to humans and animals and assessed consumer exposure. “Based on animal experiments, we see the occurrence of liver tumors in rodents as the most critical health impact,” emphasize the experts.
In the study, people in the first group developed 75% more colon cancer than those who didn’t take these compounds.
Source: EFSA