OTTAWA — The fight against cancer is about to take an unusual turn.
According to a Canadian Press story, the federal government wants to solicit information from the public about its proposed plan to add small amounts of asparaginase, a cancer-fighting enzyme, into some popular junk foods like potato chips and french fries.
Scientists believe that acrylamide, a chemical which is found as a cooking byproduct in the production of some junk foods, is linked to cancer in animals. New research has shown that adding asparaginase into foods may reduce the production of acrylamide.
On the Health Canada website, scientists claim that they have completed an assessment on the safety of adding the enzyme into food, which raised no health concerns. Health Canada is asking for public commentary, up until Feb. 21, on the idea.
The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Denmark use asparaginase, and the World Health Organization endorses it as well.
