Chicken from seven fast food outlets were tested to see which had the highest levels of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines.
Fast Food Tested for Carcinogens
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Okay, so it really is the chicken; but which chicken? Researchers last year tested the levels of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in chicken samples from McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, TGI Friday’s, Outback Steakhouse, and Applebee’s. Which was worse? You tell me.
One hundred samples of chicken were taken, and every single one of the hundred was contaminated. But which one took the cancer cake? Applebee’s has a grilled chicken salad; Burger King and Chick-fil-A both have chicken sandwiches; Chili’s has a “guiltless” chicken platter; Micky D’s has a grilled chicken salad; Outback has barbequed chicken; and TGI Friday’s a grilled chicken salad.
Which is worse? It was that chicken salad from Friday’s. The researchers conclude: “Simple steps, such as reducing or avoiding the consumption of grilled chicken products…can be encouraged as a strategy to reduce one’s total intake of carcinogenic or mutagenic toxins.”
To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by veganmontreal.
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- Food Chem Toxicol. 1995 Oct;33(10):821-8. Airborne mutagens produced by frying beef, pork and a soy-based food. Thiébaud HP, Knize MG, Kuzmicky PA, Hsieh DP, Felton JS.
- K. M. Sullivan, M. A. Erickson, C. B. Sandusky, and N. D. Barnard. Detection of PhIP in grilled chicken entrées at popular chain restaurants throughout California. Nutr Cancer, 60(5):592-602, 2008.
Okay, so it really is the chicken; but which chicken? Researchers last year tested the levels of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in chicken samples from McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, TGI Friday’s, Outback Steakhouse, and Applebee’s. Which was worse? You tell me.
One hundred samples of chicken were taken, and every single one of the hundred was contaminated. But which one took the cancer cake? Applebee’s has a grilled chicken salad; Burger King and Chick-fil-A both have chicken sandwiches; Chili’s has a “guiltless” chicken platter; Micky D’s has a grilled chicken salad; Outback has barbequed chicken; and TGI Friday’s a grilled chicken salad.
Which is worse? It was that chicken salad from Friday’s. The researchers conclude: “Simple steps, such as reducing or avoiding the consumption of grilled chicken products…can be encouraged as a strategy to reduce one’s total intake of carcinogenic or mutagenic toxins.”
To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by veganmontreal.
Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.
- Food Chem Toxicol. 1995 Oct;33(10):821-8. Airborne mutagens produced by frying beef, pork and a soy-based food. Thiébaud HP, Knize MG, Kuzmicky PA, Hsieh DP, Felton JS.
- K. M. Sullivan, M. A. Erickson, C. B. Sandusky, and N. D. Barnard. Detection of PhIP in grilled chicken entrées at popular chain restaurants throughout California. Nutr Cancer, 60(5):592-602, 2008.
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Fast Food Tested for Carcinogens
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Content URLDoctor's Note
Check out these videos on meat carcinogens:
Estrogenic Cooked Meat Carcinogens
Carcinogens in the Smell of Frying Bacon
Meat Fumes: Dietary Secondhand Smoke
Heterocyclic Amines in Eggs, Cheese, and Creatine?
When Nitrites Go Bad
Also check out my other videos on chicken and carcinogens.
For more context, see my associated blog posts: Estrogenic Chemicals in Meat; Avoiding Cooked Meat Carcinogens; and Vitamin B12: how much, how often?
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