Nutella Cancer Snopes: Does Palm Oil Cause Cancer
Reports (bearing the title of the catchy "The risk to human health associated with the presence of 3 and 2-monochloro propanediol [MCPD], and fatty acid esters of them, and glycidol fatty acid esters in food") is assigned to investigate the toxicity of three special classes of contaminants in the food made by high-temperature processing of various vegetable oils. Among the report's findings is their conclusion that one of the chemical groups (found in the highest concentration in palm oil compared with other vegetable oils), glycidyl fatty acid esters (GE), can be considered to be carcinogenic at some levels of exposure. May 3, 2016, EFSA's press release about the report states that:
Experts EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) considered as information the toxicity of glycidol (the parent compound of GE) for the risk assessment of GE, assuming complete conversion of the ester in the glycidol after the process of digestion. See also: Dog cancer signs of Dying
Dr. Helle Knutsen, Chairman of the CONTAM Panel, said: "There is sufficient evidence that the glycidol is a genotoxic and carcinogenic properties, therefore the CONTAM Panel did not set a safe level for GE."
These findings, which led to at least one main chain grocery Europe to attract a wide range of palm oil products from their shelves when the report is released, is thrust back into the spotlight in early January 2017 when Ferrero (the company that produces the brand Nutella is a popular spread) announced that they will not replace the palm oil, a key component of their product, with something else:
The palm oil industry $ 44000000000, under pressure in Europe after authorities listed vegetable oil as the risk of cancer, has found allies vocals in the food sector: the makers of Nutella. Sugar company of the Italian Ferrero has taken a public stance in defense of the material which is some food companies in other countries such boycott. This has launched an advertising campaign to convince the public about the safety of Nutella, it's flagship product which makes up about a fifth of sales. The palm oil industry, cancer fears aside, have faced the onslaught of negative attention for the environmental effects caused by the harvest, which often results in large-scale deforestation rainforest environment.
There are a number of reasons, however, why the narrative of "Nutella cause cancer", based solely on the report of the EFSA, is flawed. The first is of glycidol that (which form the GE when metabolized in Your body) is only the form of palm oil when processed at temperatures above 200 ° C., Ferraro has stated they do not do, because of these reasons:
We manage all the technological productive with the goal of reducing the duration and temperature of the process, thus minimizing the risk of the possibility of developing or improving 2MCPD, 3MCPD or GE. In addition, our Quality Assurance System and Process Control enable us to continuously monitor these factors and ensure the food safety of our products to consumers.
Indeed, the EFSA noted in their press release that a number of palm oil producers have already taken action to reduce the temperature of the palm oil processing, again for this reason:
The review Panel revealed that the level of GE in coconut oil and fats halved between 2010 and 2015, due to voluntary action was taken by manufacturers. This has contributed to the notable decline in the exposure of consumers to these substances. The second issue is that the report EFSA aims to assess the risk of GE relative to the average daily consumption of palm oil products in general, not the consumption of a particular product. Their findings showed that the baby (in general) and adults (who consume the amount very high from the product of processed vegetable oils) can be affected by the level of this product that is in the range of conservative sorts of possible risks of carcinogens. For infants, this is due to the consumption of milk to a special formula:
The ministry of Education [margin of exposure] estimates in accordance with the P95 of exposure to 'Baby' a very low [low, in this case, means a higher risk] due to the contribution of the ester glycidyl of baby formula. The findings of this research at the end just as much as a reflection of the current consumption of vegetable oil products in Europe because of their carcinogenicity attached products ', and they are potentially relevant with Nutella if Ferraro producing palm oil they way they claim.
A title that more accurately sums up the report of the EFSA will be something like: "this byproduct is converted to thermal from the chemical components of oil palm which is sometimes produced when processed in a way that Nutella claims they are avoiding potentially be carcinogens for infants and some adults who consume it in other products. "But, of course, the title does not sell many newspapers or generate the online click-through rate.
The maker of Nutella fighting back against claims that the main ingredients and chocolate hazelnut spread can cause cancer. Italian food Ferrero giant recently launched an advertising campaign in Italy that guarantees consumers that the palm oil used in Nutella is safe to eat, Reuters reported. "Make Nutella without the palm oil will produce a replacement that is low for a real product, it would be a step backward," Purchasing Managers Ferrero's Vincenzo Tapella told Reuters.
The company campaign to support the palm comes amid rising pressure from European officials to the list of edible oil as potentially carcinogenic. In May, the European food safety authority (EFSA) warned that contaminants in the palm oil increase the potential health problems across the board. The EFSA panel found that cancer is the main concern over fatty acid Esters glycidyl or GE, which are formed during food processing, or when coconut oil is refined at a temperature of more than 393 Fahrenheit.
Phoenix: household products harm rainforest - Research shows that GE raises the risk of cancer, Helle Knutsen, Chairman of the EFSA expert Panel on contaminants in the food chain, said in an April statement.
"There is sufficient evidence that the glycidol is genotoxic and carcinogenic. Therefore, the CONTAM Panel did not set a safe level for GE," said Knutsen. See also: Stage 4 bladder cancer what to expect
As a response to the potential cancer-causing effect of oil, some retailers in Italy, including the largest supermarket in the country, the cage, removed the oil from their products, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, Ferrero may be hesitant to phase outside the oil, in part because it is a vegetable oil that is the cheapest in the market. EFSA May report did not provide consumer advice to stop eating products with palm oil and concluded more research is needed to assess the risk. Likewise, the WHO and the UN food and agriculture organization has acknowledged the prospect of worrying about GE, but have not advised people to stop eating products with oil.