• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Experts warn of the hidden dangers eating burned toast

Home> News> Food & Drink

Published 15:15 28 Nov 2023 GMT

Experts warn of the hidden dangers eating burned toast

Whoever the people are out there eating burnt toast, this one is for you.

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

While it would be a pretty silly move when it comes to most foods, a lot of people prefer having their toast burnt.

To be honest, I don't personally see the appeal of making my toast look like a piece of charcoal, but there is no questioning a lot of people enjoy it.

But while many enjoy some burnt toast first thing in the morning or as a bit of supper before bedtime, experts have warned of the dangers of doing so.

You're probably thinking, 'how on earth can toast put me in danger', well its all thanks to the Maillard reaction, something that takes place at heats of around 120°C (248°F).

Advert

Burned toast may not be the best idea.
Pexels

Essentially, you can thank the Maillard reaction for the wonderful tastiness that comes from most cooked dinners.

"In the process, hundreds of different flavor compounds are created," Science of Cooking explains.

"These compounds in turn break down to form yet more new flavor compounds, and so on. Each type of food has a very distinctive set of flavor compounds that are formed during the Maillard reaction."

Advert

The problem with this reaction comes from an amino acid known as asparagine, which is present in the likes of potatoes, bread, cereals, cookies, and coffee.

In a study done by scientists in Sweden back in 2002, it was discovered that the Maillard reaction takes asparagine and produces a substance known as acrylamide.

Well, this substance, which is formed when we burn toast, is labeled as 'very toxic' according to CAMEO Chemicals.

Basically, acrylamide is not very good for us, causing potential damages to our nervous system, and long-term exposure to it can even increase the risk of someone developing dementia.

Advert

Federica Laguzzi, assistant professor of cardiovascular and nutritional epidemiology at the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, told BBC Future: "Acrylamide passes through all tissue, including the placenta, because it has a low molecular weight and is soluble in water."

A 'harmful' substance sits on burned toast.
Pexels

Then there comes the cancer risk, with high levels of acrylamide proven to increase an animal's chances of developing the disease.

Measuring that risk on humans is a different story, as Rashmi Sinha, a senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute, told Inverse: "To really be able to be to say that this causes cancer you need to do clinical trials. But you can’t do clinical trials with things that are possible carcinogens."

Advert

"The main studies have been association [or] prospective studies. We ask questions about how [healthy participants] cook their foods and then we follow them up for ten, fifteen, twenty-years."

Nonetheless, it may be best to lay off the burnt toast.

Featured Image Credit: Adam Gault/Tetra Images/Getty Images

Topics: Food and Drink, Health, Weird, Science

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Jamie Lee Curtis responds after her cleavage in revealing outfit left fans 'distracted'

    Jamie Lee Curtis has issued a response after fans were left 'distracted' by a recent outfit

    Film & TV
  • an hour ago

    Woman sparks major airport debate after revealing controversial question she asked stranger before flight

    The TikTok user divided users as she revealed what happened to her

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Newly released bodycam footage shows Idaho victims' roommate detailing terrifying events surrounding murders

    Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were the two surviving roommates following the Idaho murders

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Why Erik Menendez was denied parole as judge urges him not to have a 'pity party'

    Erik Menendez was denied parole on Thursday, while Lyle will learn his fate on Friday

    News
  • Student speaks out after eating 'toxic broccoli' sandwich that's left two dead and 17 others hospitalized
  • Several common foods should never be reheated due to health risks, experts warn
  • Nutritionist explains why eating cereal for breakfast is 'one of worst things' you could do
  • Dangers of fasting as shocking simulation shows the extreme impact of doing it for 36 hours