Burnt toasts, chips, and potatoes are dangerous for they could cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), has sent out a memo on Jan. 27, stating that acrylamide, which is found in burnt toasts and the like are carcinogenic.
Based on Wired's report, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), created a campaign that would encourage everyone to eat toasts that are golden yellow in color. They called this project, "Go for Gold," since the idea is to push everyone to wait for their toasts to go golden yellow and not have it burnt to avoid the dangers of cancer.
What happens is when toasts or chips or potatoes were overcooked, the chemical acrylamide was formed, which is the cause of cancer in the human race. This occurs mostly in starchy foods when they are exposed too much in the stove, grill or toaster.
The carcinogenic element, acrylamide, was easily form in toasts and the like, while one is frying or cooking under the temperature of 120°C. The chemical could then invade the living tissue of the body and start doing damage there. In 1994, the said chemical has been labeled as a possible human carcinogen after a study was published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It has been tested in both humans and lab animals and results showed the same.
The Guardian said that the FSA then recommends a general rule of thumb to always aim for a golden yellow toast or potatoes before eating them. The lighter the fried or toasted food is, the better and safer for the body.
For those reading this, it is better to be safe than sorry, so staying away from burnt toasts and potatoes should always be a practice. Like what the FSA says, "Go for Gold!"
