July 8, 2003 – So, do “French fries” cause cancer or not? As is often the case, it all depends on the experts to whom you ask the question.
Controversy erupted last year when Swedish scientists discovered that foods high in carbohydrates, such as fried or baked potatoes, crackers and some grains, contained high levels of acrylamide, a substance which, according to the World Health Organization, probably causes cancer in humans (see the article from PasseportSanté.net on this subject, dated May 3, 2002).
However, an investigation1 conducted by Italian researchers on more than 7,000 Italian and Swiss subjects already suffering from cancer did not make it possible to establish a link between their disease and their consumption of cooked potatoes. The participants suffered in particular from cancers of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, larynx, colon, rectum, breast and ovaries.
This does not mean, however, that acrylamide is harmless. US researchers recently discovered that even a very low concentration of the substance can cause genetic mutations in animals2, but other experts specify that the level of acrylamide in the body of an average person is five times lower than that used in this experiment.
And while it comes to tubers, in India there is controversy over the impending government approval to grow a genetically engineered sweet potato to contain more protein. The new potato contains 40% more protein than a normal potato, but opponents of the project say the difference is insignificant and will not really protect people from the protein deficiency that plagues millions of Indians.3.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to Reuters Health, WebMD and BMJ; June 17, July 8, 2003.
1. Pelucchi C, Franceschi S, Levi F, Trichopoulos D, Bosetti C, Negri E, La Vecchia C. Fried potatoes and human cancer.Int J Cancer 2003 Jul 1; 105 (4): 558-60. [Consulté le 8 juillet 2003].
2. Besaratinia A, Pfeifer GP. Weak yet distinct mutagenicity of acrylamide in mammalian cells.J Natl Cancer Inst2003 Jun 18; 95 (12): 889-96. [Consulté le 8 juillet 2003].
3. Mudur G. Controversy grows over India’s genetically modified potato. BMJ 2003 Jun 21; 326 (7403): 1351. [Consulté le 6 mars 2003].