# is charred food bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154 "2005-10-14T01:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/1 "2005-10-14T01:54:04Z")
Someone told me that that burnt parts of barbequed steak is bad for you…I kind of like the taste, and I would think carbon isnt a bad thing, other than it would get you constipated…but is it a “carcinagen” -sp? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/2 "2005-10-14T01:57:28Z")
I believe I’ve read a study that starches, when exposed to heat, turn carcinogenic exponentially as a function of applied heat. Burnts to a crisp being the extreme of that, so I assume it’s pretty bad. This only applied to starches though, so I don’t know. I generally feel that meat is overall better for you than anything starchy, so to me burnt meat would be better than unburnt potatoes, but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/3 "2005-10-14T04:30:30Z")
According to [this](http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2003/apr2003_awsi_02.html) (cite source looks slightly suspect but their cites look sound enough) > [@](#): > > It has long been known that heavily cooked foods inflict massive damage to the genes. A group at the University of Minnesota reported that women who ate overcooked hamburgers had a 50% greater risk of breast cancer than women who ate rare or medium hamburgers. The famous Iowa Women’s Health Study found that women who consistently eat well-done steak, hamburgers and bacon have a 4.62-fold increased risk of breast cancer.33 > > Cooking foods at high temperatures causes the formation of gene-mutating heterocyclic amines, which is why deep fried foods are so dangerous to eat. Heterocyclic amines have been linked to prostate, breast, colorectal, esophageal, lung, liver and other cancers. While health conscious people try to avoid foods that are known carcinogens, even grilled salmon contains a potent dose of gene-mutating heterocyclic amines.34 So yes, burnt food is relatively carcinogenic. No data about how it affects men though. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/4 "2005-10-14T04:35:20Z")
[Data from the NIH](http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/3_25.htm) > [@](#): > > Recent studies have further evaluated the relationship associated with methods of cooking meat and the development of specific types of cancer. One study conducted by researchers from NCI抯 Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics found a link between individuals with stomach cancer and the consumption of cooked meats. The researchers assessed the diets and cooking habits of 176 people diagnosed with stomach cancer and 503 people without cancer. The researchers found that those who ate their beef medium-well or well-done had more than three times the risk of stomach cancer than those who ate their beef rare or medium-rare. They also found that people who ate beef four or more times a week had more than twice the risk of stomach cancer than those consuming beef less frequently. Additional studies have shown that an increased risk of developing colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer is associated with high intakes of well-done, fried, or barbequed meats. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/5 "2005-10-14T05:51:04Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > [Data from the NIH](http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/3_25.htm) So why do the Japanese, who presumably eat far less cooked red meat than westerners, have among the highest rates of stomach cancer? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/6 "2005-10-14T05:58:45Z")
> [@astro](#): > > So why do the Japanese, who presumably eat far less cooked red meat than westerners, have among the highest rates of stomach cancer? Because overcooked food is not the _only_ cause of stomach cancer. [Salted fish and pickled veges, smoking and alcohol abuse](http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_factors_for_stomach_cancer_40.asp?sitearea=cri) are likely to be the contributors in their case. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/7 "2005-10-14T06:05:01Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Because overcooked food is not the _only_ cause of stomach cancer. [Salted fish and pickled veges, smoking and alcohol abuse](http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_factors_for_stomach_cancer_40.asp?sitearea=cri) are likely to be the contributors in their case. Look… is there anything fun to eat that doesnt’ cause cancer? ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/8 "2005-10-14T09:30:21Z")
Are you sure they have more stomach cancer? Or just less other things to die of? > [@](#): > > Aging: There is a sharp increase in stomach cancer after the age of 50. Most people diagnosed with stomach cancer are in their late 60s, 70s, and 80s. Presumably, this would mean that even a few extra years of life expectancy would raise the apparent death rate due to stomach cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/9 "2005-10-14T09:50:04Z")
[Cecil speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040730.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/10 "2005-10-14T11:08:48Z")
Charcoal is an old (and effective) remedy for settling indigestion. But you don’t really want it with extra carcinogens. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Jibby\_Jabbish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Mr.Jibby\_Jabbish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Jibby_Jabbish)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/11 "2005-10-14T12:22:13Z")
Who cares? Tastes good. You’re not gonna live forever. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/12 "2005-10-14T13:35:49Z")
> [@groman](#): > > Look… is there anything fun to eat that doesnt’ cause cancer? No. Nothing at all in the world. Doctors go overboard and fight each other to tell you the worst news. This doesn’t mean they’re always wrong, but the old maxim is best: Everything in moderation, including moderation. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/13 "2005-10-14T13:38:05Z")
Did I mean maxim or axiom? Now my own head is confused 😕 …I’m pretty sure I meant axiom, though. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/14 "2005-10-14T14:14:49Z")
> [@groman](#): > > Look… is there anything fun to eat that doesnt’ cause cancer? Each other! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-charred-food-bad-for-you/326154/15 "2005-10-14T16:25:15Z")
IIRC, I’ve read that charring food causes a carcinogenic substance called Pyrene to form.