Cancer-Causing Materials Found in Coffee Beans
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A cancer-causing toxin has been found in some popular coffee beans distributed here, according to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), Wednesday.
It said seven out of 210 brands of coffee beans sold here contained ochratoxin, a toxin caused by fungus growth on various foods. Contamination can occur before or after harvesting and during the packaging and storage process if there is sufficient oxygen, heat and moisture.
Among the brands containing the harmful toxin are Trinidad Coffee’s Hawaii Kona Blend with ochratoxin levels of 4.8 parts per billion (ppb), Mocha Mattari (4.2 ppb) and Mcnulty (1.6 ppb).
The European Union has set its standard below 5 ppb and Italy has set it on 4 ppb, but Korea has not set its own yardstick.
“If someone drinks more than seven cups of coffee a day, which is not unusual for youngsters, the substance could cause serious health trouble,” Rep. Lim Doo-sung of the governing Grand National Party said. “As they are popular brands here, the amount of products sold is huge.”
Authorities plan to set a standard for the ochratoxin this month. KFDA spokesman Park Sun-hee said, “Considering the amount of actual amount of coffee beans used for a cup of coffee, one needs to drink 660 cups a day for it to affect one’s health.”
Ochratoxin is categorized as a “possible class 2B” carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization, and can cause nervous and respiratory system problems as well as triggering cancer.
Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/117_32379.html
