Cancer-causing Chemicals in Fats and Oils: Aflatoxins & Benzo(a)pyrene
This is a summary of the Food Safety Focus (112th Issue, November 2015) in Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety. Aflatoxins and Benzo(a)pyrene are the two major carcinogenic chemicals particularly presented in fats and oils. Aflatoxins Group of highly toxic mycotoxins produced by fungi (4 main kinds: B1, B2, G1, G2) Carcinogenic (Group I in WHO - IARC*) - Liver as primary target Pressing of contaminated oil-bearing crops e.g. corn, peanuts, other oilseeds result in their presence
