– NOTICE –
A common food safety method to prevent food poisoning is to heat food to a temperature that kills bacteria and serve it hot. We love hot food and we enjoy its aroma that fills the air with appetizing appeal. Unfortunately, hot food is also a food safety risk, as eating food that is too hot is also a known cause of cancer.
It is surprising that the temperature at which people like to drink their coffee or tea is also the temperature that can cause esophageal cancer.
But before you get all worked up about the need to cool down, let’s look at the facts. According to a 2010 article in the International Journal of Cancer, titled High-temperature Beverages and Foods and Esophageal Cancer Risk — A Systematic Review,
“In this systematic review, we collected the literature on the association between consumption of tea, coffee, mate or other high-temperature foods or beverages and the risk of oesophageal cancer. We analysed the results separately for quantity consumed and consumption temperature. For tea and coffee, there was little evidence that quantity consumed was associated with the risk of oesophageal cancer, but the majority of publications reported a statistically significant increase in risk associated with higher consumption temperature. For mate, individual studies and pooled analyses showed an increased risk of oesophageal cancer associated with both quantity consumed and consumption temperature, and these two factors appeared to be independent risk factors. For other hot foods and beverages, the majority of studies showed a higher risk of oesophageal cancer associated with higher consumption temperature.”
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in The Lancet, in a 2016 article titled “Carcinogenicity of coffee, mate and very hot beverage consumption,”
“Although mechanistic and other relevant evidence regarding very hot beverages is sparse, there is biological plausibility for an association between very hot beverages and cellular damage and the 10 sequelae that may lead to cancer. Based on these considerations and the totality of the evidence, consumption of very hot beverages above 65 degrees C has been classified as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2A).”
As a reminder, 65 degrees Celsius is equivalent to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. Foods and drinks at this temperature and above are hot enough to cause burns in the esophagus, which can lead to cancer. However, the temperature at which food should be served is very close to this. In fact, the Chef Resource website has an article called What Temperature Should Hot Foods Be Served At?, which explains:
“It’s a common concern for hosts and chefs alike: at what temperature should hot foods be served to ensure both safety and enjoyment? Serving hot foods properly is essential because it not only ensures that they are safe to eat, but also optimizes their flavor and texture. To answer the question directly, **hot foods should be served at a minimum temperature of 140 degrees F (60 degrees C)**. This temperature ensures that any harmful bacteria are killed or rendered inert, reducing the risk of foodborne illness.”
Of course, some foods are served at a higher temperature than this. Pizza is served at a temperature close to 90 degrees Celsius, which can damage gums and teeth. We all know how the gums behind our front teeth feel after eating a hot, melty cheese pizza.
Coffee and tea are also consumed at a temperature above the cancer-causing temperature, which is high enough to be painful. According to a 2018 study published in the journal Foods and titled What Coffee Temperature Exceeds the Pain Threshold? A Pilot Study of a Sensory Analysis Method as a Basis for Cancer Risk Assessment,
“Since 2016, the risk of cancer associated with the consumption of hot beverages has been the subject of increased attention by scientists and consumers. This is because the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified “consumption of very hot beverages” in Group 2A as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. Specifically, the risk of developing esophageal carcinoma increases with the consumption of very hot beverages, as shown by several epidemiological studies. Beverages with a temperature above 65 °C are considered “very hot”. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considers “very hot beverages (over 65 °C)” to be probably carcinogenic to humans. However, there is no research on the temperatures that consumers actually perceive as “very hot” or “too hot”. A method for sensory analysis of these threshold temperatures has been developed. Participants were asked to mix a very hot coffee with a colder coffee step by step. For this reason, the temperature of the coffee to be enjoyed was gradually increased during the test. Participants took a sip with each addition, until they perceived the drink as too hot to consume. The protocol was evaluated in the form of a pilot study with 87 participants. Interestingly, the mean pain threshold of the test group (67 degrees C) and the preferred drinking temperature (63 degrees C) were around the IARC carcinogenicity threshold.
What do coffee connoisseurs say about the ideal coffee temperature? According to Home Grounds, in their article, The Ideal Coffee Temperature: How Hot Should Your Coffee Be?,
“According to the National Coffee Association in the United States, which informs many major food and beverage companies, coffee should be served at a temperature of about 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, just slightly lower than the standard brewing temperature. However, many coffee experts believe that this temperature is too high.
They suggest serving coffee between 155 and 175 degrees F, leaning more toward the lower end of the scale with higher-quality coffee beans. The hypothesis that lower temperatures are better for specialty coffee fits well with what we already know: You can use temperature to reveal or mask the flavor of coffee.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, there are a few helpful tips to help you find the perfect temperature for your cup of coffee or espresso:
If you prefer the round, sweet, bitter notes of coffee, stay in the 155 to 175 degree F range.
If you like a brighter, tangier, more acidic cup, aim for the 120 to 140 degree F range.
If you care more about the warm sensation of hot coffee than its flavor, a cup at a temperature between 180 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit would be best for you.
Note that they recommend temperatures well above the dangerously carcinogenic limit of 65°C, or 149 degrees F.
What’s a foodie to do? Should you give up your hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate on those cold nights? Or is there a way to eat your cake warm?
Here are some suggestions:
- Allow hot foods to cool for about 5 minutes before consuming.
- If food or drink is too hot, spit it out. Do not swallow it.
- Take smaller sips of hot drinks.
- While you may not want to eat foods that are too hot, be sure to heat or reheat foods or drinks above 160°F to kill bacteria. Then let the food sit for a few minutes before consuming it.
- Remember that the mouth, teeth and gums are burned first, and more severely than the esophagus, because that is where the food is hottest. The mouth also burns the tongue and taste buds, reducing pleasure and perception of flavors.
- People tolerate heat better in their mouths than in their hands. However, for safety reasons, if the heat is too hot to handle, it is also too hot for your mouth.
- Hot foods cook your mouth and throat, which also harms oral bacteria.
- Keep in mind that daily habits, such as drinking hot cups of coffee or tea, have cumulative effects. Over time, the daily assault on your mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach with hot foods will take its toll.
- We focused only on esophageal cancer. It is likely that hot foods also contribute to mouth, throat, and stomach cancers.
- Remember that heat is carcinogenic. Consume it with caution.
Cooking is a culturally defined activity, and our bodies aren’t designed to consume foods at high temperatures. But with a little patience and a willingness to eat and drink foods that are a little less steamy, you can enjoy the benefits of a tasty, hot meal without burning yourself.
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