In addition to their rich nutritional composition, an increasing number of foods are hiding a whole host of compounds with potential carcinogenic effects.
These include pesticides and pesticide residues found in many fruit and vegetables, chlorine in tap water, smoked meat and fish - such products very often contain harmful formaldehyde and creosote. In addition, saturated fats or, more commonly, trans fats, which are mainly found in dairy products, meat and offal, and confectionery products, are also present in many fried foods. A potent carcinogenic compound in food is butylhydroxyanisole (BHTN ), a preservative. Consumption of products rich in carcinogens increases the risk of developing cancer.