[Problem with the presence of carcinogenic substances formed spontaneously or during technologic processing in food]

The current opinion on the spontaneously occurring or evoked by certain culinary and technological processes muta-, cancero- and teratogenic compounds are reviewed on the basis of the world literature. It was noted that these substances may form in food products of vegetal origin. Formation of carcinogenic compounds is more intensive in plants attacked by various diseases, insects or parasites. The importance of this problem should be stressed together with the need of improving knowledge in this field. The compounds under discussion are the most serious risk factor in the incidence of neoplasms in humans.