Coffee probably doesn’t cause cancer (but very hot drinks might)

Coffee has been listed as a possible carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) since 1991, and was thought to cause bladder cancer, but now researchers at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) say the evidence isn’t there.

However, drinking very hot drinks at temperatures above 65 degrees C (149F) could lead to oesophageal (gullet) cancer. The new warning is based on studies from Iran, China and South America, where they drink very hot drinks. Just letting your hot drink cool for a few minutes will be enough to make it much safer to drink.

While the IARC’s latest findings are welcome news for coffee lovers, the bare fact that any food or beverage is deemed to be possibly carcinogenic doesn’t tell us a lot: the amount you consume does.

Also, coffee seems to have a protective effect when it comes to other cancers: regular coffee drinkers seem to have fewer cancers of the liver and womb.

(Source: IARC website, June 15, 2016)

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