Heated Fats and Allied Compounds as Carcinogens: A Critical Review of Experimental Results2

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Abstract
A critical review of the literature shows no valid experimental evidence that heated fats are carcinogenic on oral administration, and chemical studies have failed to demonstrate known carcinogens in heated fats. From general experience on experimental carcinogenesis in the alimentary tract, it is concluded that feeding experiments on rodents are inadequate for the demonstration of carcinogenic components in human food. Experimental evidence on heated fats as carcinogens after subcutaneous and cutaneous application is critically reviewed, together with results obtained by similar procedures with cholesterol and other unheated lipides. The results are variable and inconclusive. Subcutaneous application is discussed, and it is concluded that this method is not suitable to disclose dietary carcinogens. Thus experimental methods available at present are invalid as evidence on the possible carcinogenicity of heated fats.