--- description: New evidence in animal studies reinforces the link between regularly eating fried, browned or burnt foods and cancer. title: Scientists Warn, Again: Fries May Increase Risk of Cancer image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltef2ed2335033b253/6988b6d6fb4eac172689080b/french-fries-linked-cancer-again.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Cancer](/tag/cancer/) ## Cancer Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Scientists Warn, Again: French Fries May Increase Risk of Cancer  by [Julia Zorthian](/author/julia-zorthian/)  ## Julia Zorthian Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 23, 2017 7:28 PM CUT  Martin Jordan / Eye—Getty Images/EyeEm  by [Julia Zorthian](/author/julia-zorthian/)  ## Julia Zorthian Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 23, 2017 7:28 PM CUT New evidence in animal studies suggests that regularly eating fried, browned or burnt foods—[such as French fries](http://time.com/3896083/french-fries-potato/ "undefined") or toast—may [increase the risk of cancer](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-cancer-cooking-idUSKBN15712K "undefined"), a [British government agency](https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2017/15890/families-urged-to-go-for-gold-to-reduce-acrylamide-consumption "undefined") said today. [The link between fries and disease isn’t new](http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/18/fda-ruins-everything-by-saying-super-crispy-french-fries-could-cause-cancer/ "undefined"), but the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) has found that [acrylamide](http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/chemicalcontaminants/ucm053569.htm#1 "undefined"), a substance produced when starchy foods are heated at high temperatures, has been linked to cancer in animals. The FSA suggest people cook foods at lower temperatures and aim for a more golden color, rather than crispy brown, [_Reuters_ ](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-cancer-cooking-idUSKBN15712K "undefined")reports. “The scientific consensus is that acrylamide has the potential to cause cancer in humans,” the FSA warned. “As a general rule of thumb, aim for a golden yellow color or lighter when frying, baking, toasting or roasting starchy foods like potatoes, root vegetables and bread.” [**_Read More:_** ](http://time.com/3896083/french-fries-potato/ "undefined")[**Should I Eat French Fries?**](http://time.com/3896083/french-fries-potato/ "undefined") The FSA also recommends other ways to reduce excessive acrylamide consumption, including not overloading on starches through a balanced diet and not storing raw potatoes in the fridge. The agency is launching a “Go for Gold” campaign to publicize the recommendations, but some experts said people would be better off monitoring behaviors with stronger links to cancer, such as smoking, according to _Reuters._ \[[_Reuters_](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-cancer-cooking-idUSKBN15712K "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4643779/scientists-french-fries-cancer/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4643779/scientists-french-fries-cancer/"},"headline":"Scientists Warn, Again: French Fries May Increase Risk of Cancer","datePublished":"2017-01-23T19:28:50.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T02:53:42.127Z","description":"The chemical byproducts may lead to disease","url":"https://time.com/4643779/scientists-french-fries-cancer/","keywords":["Cancer","Food & Drink","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltef2ed2335033b253/6988b6d6fb4eac172689080b/french-fries-linked-cancer-again.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Julia Zorthian","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/julia-zorthian/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltef2ed2335033b253/6988b6d6fb4eac172689080b/french-fries-linked-cancer-again.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"french fries linked cancer again","caption":"french fries linked cancer again","creditText":"Martin Jordan / Eye—Getty Images/EyeEm","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/cancer/","name":"Cancer"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4643779/scientists-french-fries-cancer/","name":"Scientists Warn, Again: French Fries May Increase Risk of Cancer"}}]}] ```