in

Barbecued food: what are the health risks?

Akwsys - Pixabay
Barbecued food: what are the health risks?
5 (100%) 1 vote

It’s our favourite summer meal in the Western world: a barbecue. The enticing smell of the meat and the freshly scented herbs waft deliciously around our summer soirees, but to what extent is barbecuing harmful to our health? Here is a little information to be aware of, and recommendations for avoiding risk.

Foods cooked on the barbecue may be carcinogenic

When meat or fish is cooked on the barbecue, the fat often catches fire when it comes into contact with the embers, which in turn carbonise and blacken our food.

Studies have shown that carbonising or charring foods leads to the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are carcinogenic. However, this reaction is produced from the minute a food is cooked at high temperatures.

In order to prevent the risk of cancer, it is recommended that you remove the black parts from your food, even your vegetables.

A maximum number of barbecues per week

The carcinogenic risk is quite present in barbecued food, which is why nutritionists recommend limiting barbecues to the summer season, which is seasonal enough as to not impact too much on people’s health.

Furthermore, in the hotter months, it is recommended that you do not have a barbecue more than twice a week. 

A few recommendations for healthier barbecuing

In order to reduce the formation of carcinogenic substances on your food, opt for slow cooking on the barbecue, placing the food a minimum of 10 cm from the coals.

Make sure that your meat is well cooked, and allow for a longer cooking time when you are slow cooking. If the meat is not cooked enough, you run the risk of food poisoning.

Wash the grill carefully after each use, to ensure there is no buildup of carcinogenic substances from old foods, which could transfer onto your food the next time you barbecue.

Related articles:

Red meat: what are the health risks?

7 plants that keep mosquitoes at bay

Why you shouldn’t have sex on the beach this summer