Agony in disguise

ALL beer guzzlers bewarel This popular drink may after all be a repository of carcinogenic chemicals like nitroso- dimethylamine, according to scientists of the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

After obtaining samples of Indian beer from commercial outlets in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Punjab and analysing them, the researchers found that the levels of the cancer-causing chemical present in them ranged from zero to 24.7 parts per billion. A senior NIN scientist, Kamala Krishnaswamy said, "We suspect that nitroso-dimethylamine is formed during the high temperatures used in malt processing".

While beer manufactured abroad also contains the chemical, its level is much less (it is 0.6 parts per billion in Germany and 4.2 in Japan). The researchers at NIN believe that a modification in the manufacturing process may do the trick of reducing the nitroso-dimethylamine content.

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :

SUPPORT US

We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.