Study raises new concerns over carcinogen found in food

Acrylamide can be found in products such as coffee and potato chips though questions remain over whether it is causing cancer in humans

Coffee and bread contain a chemical that can give you cancer, according to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

DTU's warning made its way through the media and landed at the feet of politicians who condemned the presence of the carcinogen acrylamide in many ordinary food stuffs.

“We need to investigate whether we can bake bread without using acrylamide,” MP René Christensen (Dansk Folkeparti) told Berlingske newspaper. “If we can ban the chemical in Denmark, I’m sure that we could easily agree on that. But it’s not as simple as that. The EU would see it as anti-competitive, which is why we need to involve the EU so we can make an EU-wide ban.”

Christensen may run into problems with his acrylamide ban, however, as the chemical is not an additive but is rather a natural byproduct of heating starchy foods above 120 degrees Celsius. It is also found in high concentrations in coffee.

The presence of acrylamide in food, particularly cooked potato products, was discovered accidentally by Swedish scientists in 2002. Since then, concerns have been raised repeatedly over whether there was sufficient exposure to the carcinogen through an ordinary diet to increase the risk of developing cancer.

Several studies have failed to find a conclusive connection, but according to DTU, new research is starting to indicate a link.

“We can with high probability say that there is a connection between foods that contain acrylamide and cancer,” Jørgen Schlundt, head of DTU’s National Food Institute, told public broadcaster DR.

According to DTU, animal studies have repeatedly shown a link between acrylamide consumption and cancer rates, while a recent Danish study of breast cancer sufferers found that those with higher levels of acrylamide in their blood had lower survival rates.

DTU and its sister institutes in Germany and France wrote a letter to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2012 demanding that EFSA take a comprehensive look at all the studies regarding acrylamide and its carcinogenic potential – the EFSA is expected to reply in September.

Currently there are no safety limits for acrylamide exposure and there are still no reliable industrial processes that can reduce or remove acrylamide from food.

DTU has some suggestions for how to reduce acrylamide consumption, however, such as avoiding unnecessary frying and deep frying. DTU also recommends baking and cooking potato products at no higher than 175 degrees Celsius.




  • Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Yesterday, the President of the United States made some of the strongest statements about Greenland he has ever made during the press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

  • Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Not all students feel like reading Danish poetry after a meeting at a language school with writer and poet Henrik Palle. Yet, a portrayal of Copenhagen as the city once was and the impressions of what the city is today give a deeper impression of the Danes

  • A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    It’s difficult to learn Danish, especially with idioms that have figurative meanings. It highlights Christiane Bjørg Nielsen’s book, See What You Say, which serves as a visual guide to understanding these idiomatic expressions in Danish.

  • “No one seems to stand up for internationals”

    “No one seems to stand up for internationals”

    “To some extent, Denmark is not fair to internationals.” Nichlas Walsted, 34 years old, is the CEO of Swap Language, a provider of Danish lessons to more than 10,000 internationals. Tens of thousands of people follow him, and he advocates for internationals: “Because no one else does. I can’t think of a single politician or well-known person in Denmark who stands up for them,” he says.

  • Busy Copenhagen Airport nets a nice profit for the Danish State

    Busy Copenhagen Airport nets a nice profit for the Danish State

    Almost 30 million passengers travelled to or from Copenhagen Airport in 2024. The profit was 1.4 billion DKK and both figures are expected to grow in 2025. Expansions continue, and investments are being made in continued progress

  • Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.


  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy

  • Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.