Kumasi: A joint study by the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has revealed an alarming presence of cancer-causing substances in meats singed with car tyres. Singed meats are meats treated with heat to remove hair, shrink the skin, and make them appear clean.
According to Ghana News Agency, the study found that meats singed with car tyres in Ghana contain high levels of harmful chemicals called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can increase the risk of cancer. The research, led by Prosper Manu Abdulai from the University of Port Harcourt, tested meats singed with various fuel sources, including car tyres, firewood, and LPG gas, across Ghana's five largest cities: Kumasi, Accra, Koforidua, Tamale, and Ho.
A statement issued by Dr. Daniel Norris Berkoe, University Relations Officer at KNUST, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, disclosed that researchers collected 180 samples of cattle and goat meat singed using three different fuel types: firewood, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and car tyres. The findings indicated that meats singed with car tyres had the highest levels of PAHs, particularly a dangerous chemical known as Benzoapyrene.
The study highlighted that children and the elderly are more vulnerable to these chemicals. "We did a health risk assessment, and we realized that kids and adults who take this meat whether singed with firewood or tyre are at serious risk of getting cancer," the statement revealed.
The research recommended the use of safer methods, such as LPG, for singeing meat, especially at abattoirs, and called for stricter regulations to prevent the use of tyres. The findings are particularly concerning as the levels of harmful substances in tyre-singed meats exceeded regulatory limits set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The researchers emphasized the urgent need to explore and promote alternative singeing methods that minimize PAH formation, advocating for stricter regulations regarding the use of car tyres for meat singeing. Authorities are urged to impose heavy penalties for non-compliance to protect public health and ensure that consumers are not exposed to harmful substances.
