European parliament’s expert consultation on acetaldehyde
Biohit Oyj Press Release September 17, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. local time (EEST)
MEPs Against Cancer, an informal group of Members of the European Parliament, which is committed to actions against cancer held an expert consultation about alcohol and cancer on Wednesday September 16, 2015. Experts were present from European cancer organizations’ umbrella organization European Cancer League and from European Alcohol Policy Alliance Care that coordinates alcohol policy in the member states of the European Union.
MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen: ‘Acetaldehyde is the most common carcinogen in the world. Few consumer know that many alcoholic beverages contain high levels of acetaldehyde. That is why European Parliament has taken up on this question. The consumer must be able to make choices on the basis of correct information.’
The expert consultation was held due the European Parliament Motion for a resolution on Alcohol Strategy in which acetaldehyde was featured. Professor Salaspuro who has studied acetaldehyde for a long time, told to the members and officials of the European Parliament about the nature of carcinogenic acetaldehyde.
Professor Mikko Salaspuro, University of Helsinki: ‘Acetaldehyde is amply present in small portions in nature, but through biochemical process it is produced carcinogenic levels from alcohol in digestion. European Parliament should oblige the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to re-evaluate the safety of acetaldehyde to human and to take steps to communicate about alcohol and acetaldehyde content in alcoholic beverages and other foodstuff. Also, producers should be able to know how they can reduce or eliminate acetaldehyde during the production process. It is important that the cancer risk related to alcohol will be discussed openly, and that the carcinogenic acetaldehyde should become well-known.’
The event took place on Wednesday in the European Parliament, in Brussels, and it was opened by MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen and the chairman of MEP’s Against Cancer, MEP and former Prime Minister of Slovenia Alojz Peterle spoke the opening words.
Link: Motion for a resolution on Alcohol Strategy, see the section 7.:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2015-0357&language=EN#
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