Ten nitrosamines present in charcuterie, fish-based products and even beer are carcinogenic according to the European Food Safety Authority.
- The European Food Safety Authority has found that nitrosamines in food may be carcinogenic.
- They are found in particular in processed products made from meat or fish.
- She recommends adopting a varied diet to limit the risk of exposure.
Charcuterie, processed fish, cocoa or even beer: all these products can contain nitrosamines. These are compounds that can form in food during preparation and processing. According to’European Safety Authority, their presence in food is a public health problem. In a press release, published Tuesday, March 28, she explains that these products are carcinogenic and genotoxic, that is to say that they can damage DNA.
????We’ve assessed the #PublicHealth risk linked to the presence of #nitrosamines in food.
Our opinion concludes that consumer exposure to nitrosamines raises a health concern.
Read to know more ???? https://t.co/ZDYYResxUv#EUFoodSafety pic.twitter.com/X1wxu1cinH
— EFSA (@EFSA_EU) March 28, 2023
Diet: nitrosamines associated with cancer risk
“EFSA carried out its review by assessing the potential harm caused by nitrosamines in humans and animals and by assessing the actual exposure of consumers to these substances”, explains the European Authority. While 32 nitrosamines can be present in food, EFSA focused on ten of them, present in significant quantities: NDMA, NMEA, NDEA, NDPA, NDBA, NMA, NSAR, NMOR, NPIP and NPYR. “Our assessment concludes that for all age groups in the EU population, the level of exposure to nitrosamines in food constitutes a health concern.”, observes Dr. Dieter Schrenk, chairman of the scientific group on contaminants in the food chain. “Based on animal studies, we considered the incidence of liver tumors in rodents to be the most critical health effect.” He specifies that he worked on the worst-case scenario to assess the risks in order to ensure “a high level of consumer protection”. “We assumed that all nitrosamines in food had the same carcinogenic potential in humans as the most harmful nitrosamine, although this is unlikely.”he notes.
Nitrosamines: how to eliminate these carcinogenic substances from our diet?
EFSA acknowledges facing “gaps in available knowledge on the presence of nitrosamines in specific food categories”. While meat and meat products are the foods that contribute the most to our exposure to nitrosamines, it is possible to find them in other everyday products such as cereals, dairy products or fermented foods. EFSA therefore recommends that individuals consume a “wider variety of foods” to reduce their total consumption of nitrosamines. Eventually, the regulations could change. Indeed, this study was carried out following a request from the European Commission. According to EFSA, it will look “with the national authorities, on the risk management measures required”.
Since 2015, the World Health Organization has classified processed meat, including charcuterie, as carcinogenic to humans. “In other words, there is compelling evidence that the agent causes cancer in humans, explains the WHO. In the case of processed meat, this classification is based on ‘sufficient evidence’ from epidemiological studies that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer in humans.”