Cancerogenic food contaminants in European countries

Contamination of food is inevitable in the production process from manufacturing to preparation for consumption. Some of the contaminants in food are serious health hazards and may increase the risk of cancer. Carcinogenic food contaminants include mycotoxins, dioxins, benzopyrene, acrylamide, cadmium and arsenic. European Union countries are required to meet standards for individual contaminants that may be present in food and to monitor these contami­nants in products on the market. However, based on the European warning system for carcinogenic contaminants, it can be seen that they are still present in various countries of the EU. In view of the increasing number of cancer cases and the overall burden of non-communicable diseases on society, it is recommended to consider not only the nutritional value of food, but also the contamination of food with carcinogenic substances.