Cancer-Causing Food Report Expected 
Wed Jun 26, 2002 By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, Associated Press Writer 

GENEVA (AP) - An emergency U.N.-sponsored meeting of experts on food safety has examined what is known about newly suspected cancer-causing substance acrylamide and is preparing recommendations for release to consumers Thursday, a spokesman said.

The three-day meeting that started Tuesday was called to determine why acrylamide forms in some french fries and other products and how to keep the substance at safe levels.

"Part of the mystery so far is what is the chemical process or the chemical reaction that causes acrylamide to form," said Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the World Health Organization. 

The meeting was organized after initial tests in Europe — subsequently backed up by a study in the United States — found high levels of acrylamide in some foods.

Acrylamide, used to produce plastics and dyes and to purify drinking water, has been shown to be carcinogenic in animal experiments and is suspected of causing cancer among people exposed to high levels for long periods. Although traces of it have been found in water, its possible presence at high levels in basic foods came as a shock.

The U.S. findings agreed with European findings that french fries had the highest levels of acrylamide. Potato chips also had high levels.

But the U.S. group found puzzling variation in levels. One brand of corn chips had a tiny amount of acrylamide while another had a moderate amount and a brand of similarly made corn taco shells had high levels.

GO To: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020626/ap_on_he_me/un_cancer_foods_8