No acrylamide in Boiled/steamed? Don't kid yourself...

One of my brothers is a top ranked chemist here in Texas who runs a large water municipality. Although he is a SAD eater himself, he was telling me some interesting things this past weekend about testing for chemicals in food, acrylamide in particular. I want to broadcast this across the board because awhile back mario was claiming there isn't any acrylamide in boiled food. I disputed this because I'd read differently. It turns out that I had remembered accurately. The test I'd seen had been conducted by the World Health Organization. It did in fact show acrylamide in boiled food. My brother confirmed this and explained the confusion over it. Yes, acrylamide has in fact been found in boiled and steamed food - and at higher concentrations than the EPA deems safe in drinking water. He said the only reason it isn't always found in boiled food is because the two tests used for acrylamide in food are notoriously insensitive. They are almost useless at detecting concentrations below a certain level. The significant detail, though, is that almost every level below those test-detection ranges is still considered a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. As soon as a more sensitive test is had, my brother says - and the EPA has recommended that one be developed due to the "inadequacy" of the current tests - as soon as a sufficient test is available, boiled and steamed will officially join all other cooked foods as containing cancer causing levels of acrylamide. The upshot: anyone eating boiled or steamed food thinking he isn't getting acrylamide, and at carcinogenic levels, is fooling himself... What would you expect an addict to do?

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Permalink Reply by Fluffy white rabbit on June 21, 2012 at 3:41am

We shouldn't be affraid to eat boiled/steamed vegetables, especially for those who can't afford to buy enough fruit. Moreover, raw fruit contains a little percentage of acrylamide, too.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Andrews on June 21, 2012 at 8:10am

Fluffy,

We shouldn't be affraid to eat boiled/steamed vegetables...

What? Shouldn't you qualify that with, "as long as they don't present an avoidable risk" or something of the sort?

...especially for those who can't afford to buy enough fruit.

Again, wha? Bananas and lettuce are some of the cheapest foods per pound in the world! lol. Better to ask if you can afford cancer or nerve damage or heart disease (Polish researchers have recently linked acrylamide to increased internal inflammation, unfavorable changes in antioxidant effects and cholesterol levels). Fluffy, I've been 100% raw for almost ten years. You can too. Everyone can...

Moreover, raw fruit contains a little percentage of acrylamide, too.

Yeah, they've found a minute amount in almonds. As far as I know, all other raw fruits and veggies contain ZERO acrylamide. Zero's a good number here, don't you think? lol.

Thanks,

Carl

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Permalink Reply by Carl Andrews on June 22, 2012 at 6:27am

Lissa,

Bananas and lettuce are some of the cheapest foods per pound in the world!

In the US! ;-)

Ok, maybe not the whole wide world, lol. But compared to cancer, etc., they're still a good bargain no matter where you are, lol...

... I wasn't aware, thanks!

My pleasure. Glad you're all raw now, too.

Take care,

Carl

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Permalink Reply by Fluffy white rabbit on June 23, 2012 at 10:52pm

See page 94 :

http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v55je02.pdf

And no, bananas and lettuce are not some of the cheapest foods per pound in the world. I can get potatoes for 0,06 $ per pound and bananas are 1$ per pound. And I can't buy any lettuce because it is unaffordable.

And your way to respond may be hurtful.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Andrews on June 26, 2012 at 10:07pm

Fluffy,

Nice document. Good work. But I think what it shows is merely the contradicting testing. Two tests show one thing, another the opposite...

Am sorry you can't afford raw. Maybe you could get more creative in your budgeting but I know it can be hard.

Sorry too for seeming rude. The last thing I'd want to do is hurt anyone, least of all a fluffy rabbit, lol. Sincerely, though...

Take care,

Carl

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Permalink Reply by Liam G on June 24, 2012 at 2:58am

Forget replying to my other posts. My argument can be summed up with these few points

As far as I can see

1)You're assuming the level of acrylamide in boiled/steamed food is greater than the EPA lmit. The presentation provided here shows the same figures for both cooked potatoes and the raw food. If they've only started using accurate testing as of recent, perhaps raw fruits could contain similar amounts. As you keep saying, the tests they've been using are very insensitive.

2)You're assuming that levels under the usual detection range are carcinogenic, because of the EPA limit on water. They are only just discovering that acrylamide increases the risk of some cancers at high levels. There is little evidence to suggest there is significant risk of such low levels. You're just assuming.

3)You're using a reductionist argument, and not a wholistic approach. You can't just say this level of acrylamide is carcinogenic without factoring in other aspects of diet/lifestyle and it's source.

I think these are all fair comments. Steamed/foods may or may not be carcinogenic, but there is little proof as of yet. If they are then it could be the acrylamide, it could be something else.

If you can prove me wrong I don't mind. I'm just going by what I can currently see.

Peace

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Permalink Reply by Carl Andrews on June 26, 2012 at 10:08pm

LIam,

I didn't see this until after I'd written the above post. Will answer you here later...

Thanks,

Carl

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Permalink Reply by Sally Cinnamon on June 27, 2012 at 7:47am

I don't think a bowl of steamed veg will make you ill, it is a great addition to the diet if you can't get a wide variety of raw fruits/veg. It's not always about being the "purest" - can be far more damaging to our health both psychologically and physically

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Permalink Reply by Carl Andrews on June 27, 2012 at 11:14am

Hi Sally,

Thanks for your comment, but there has been a statement like yours and responses to it already in this thread, here here and here.

Drive by comments are fine but why not challenge yourself and consider the opposing view for a change? Come on, get your feet wet...

And speaking of challenges, if you hurry, you can join Freelee's 30 Day 100% Raw Challenge now too! She's making improvement fun, lol.

Thanks,

Carl

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Permalink Reply by Max Waters on June 27, 2012 at 11:37am

most of this is tl;dr for me.

i have one question though, is it safe to eat baked sweet potatoes?

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Permalink Reply by Liam G on June 27, 2012 at 2:44pm

Steamed would be better but still. I presume most of your diet is raw fruit and vegetables so I would say you're safe from any significant risk of cancer. It wasn't really my intention to say whether or not steamed/boiled food was carcinogenic, but to point out there is little reason to think the acrylamide in boiled/steamed is going to cause you cancer.