Furfural is not the only rodent carcinogen in our holiday dinner, however. It' s lurking in that healthful-looking relish tray, in those crisp celery and carrot sticks. These compounds are also rodent carcinogens. Unless you plan to eat it raw, you'll be consuming heterocyclic amines along with your beautifully browned roasted turkey. Then there are aflatoxins.
Toxicologists recognize aflatoxins as among the most potent animal carcinogens known.
They are produced by a fungus that can contaminate peanut, corn, tree nuts, rice, and other crops. You'll likely find tiny amounts of aflatoxins in your seasonal tray of mixed nuts. Finally, for dessert, you can have a hint of acetaldehyde and a soupcon of safrole. Both are known rodent carcinogens. You'll find them in that all-American favorite, apple pie.