U.N. food body urges more research of cancer study
Fri Apr 26, 2:05 PM ET

ROME (Reuters) - The United Nations (news - web sites ) food body said on Friday it was too early to reach any conclusions from findings by Swedish scientists that carbohydrate-rich foods contain a likely cancer-causing substance.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) urged further international research of the findings which indicate acrylamide, well known as a likely cancer-causing agent, is formed when rice, potatoes and cereals are fried or baked.

"The information available does not allow us to draw conclusions or to make recommendations for consumers or food manufacturers," Manfred Luetzow, FAO's food chemicals expert, said in a statement.

FAO said it had requested access to the details of the "unexpected finding" and welcomed Sweden's proposal for further studies in co-operation with international organisations.

FAO said that while the toxicological effects of acrylamide are well known, Swedish authorities need to explain how and why it is formed when these foods are fried or baked.

Research carried out at Stockholm University with the government food safety agency and released this week showed that potato crisps, French fries, biscuits and bread contain alarmingly high amounts of acrylamide.

The results of the research were deemed so important and surprising that the scientists took the unusual step of going public with their findings before publishing them in an academic journal and having them reviewed by peers.

A top World Health Organisation official told Reuters on Thursday that the findings were worrying but that more research was needed.

FAO's general recommendations for a well-balanced and diverse diet prepared in ways that preserve nutrient content would not need to be changed as a result of the findings, Luetzow added.


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