Biohit Oyj September 20, 2013 at 15:00. local time (EET)
Finnish healthcare company Biohit Oyj has measured the concentrations of acetaldehyde in Finnish sour whole milk (‘viili’) products. Acetaldehyde is a substance which has an apple flavor, and it is especially rich in foods prepared with a fermentation process such as alcoholic beverages, vinegars and dairy products. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization, has classified acetaldehyde as a Group I human carcinogen. Therefore, acetaldehyde is equally dangerous cancer agent such as asbestos, formaldehyde and benzene.
Biohit measured the concentrations of carcinogenic acetaldehyde in viili products generally on sale in Finland. The sample consisted of 21 different brands selected randomly from grocery outlets in the Greater Helsinki Region.
The analysis demonstrated that the concentrations of carcinogenic acetaldehyde in viili products varied between 0-12 µM. Eleven brands contained no concentrations of carcinogenic acetaldehyde. The highest concentration measured was 12 µM.
In previous studies on yogurts, the concentrations of carcinogenic acetaldehyde varied between 14-394 µM. Only in one yogurt brand the concentration of carcinogenic acetaldehyde was under the threshold level (100 µM or possibly significantly less). In all other brands, the concentration was equal to or greater than 205 µM. Thus, the measured yogurts contained on the average 20 times higher levels of carcinogens than viili products.
“Finnish consumers should have the right to know that the food they eat is safe and avoid accumulation of acetaldehyde. Unfortunately, information on acetaldehyde is not included on labels,” says Semi Korpela, CEO, Biohit. “Consumers should be entitled to have information that is vital to their wellbeing in the long run – especially as Finnish food is considered to be among the safest in the world.”
The measurement results and additional information: www.biohithealthcare.com/laboratory-services/determination-of-acetaldehyde http://www.acetium.com/node/6 - test your acetaldehyde exposure
Additional information:
CEO Semi Korpela, Biohit Oyj tel. +358 9 773 861 investor.relations@biohit.fi www.biohithealthcare.com
Biohit in brief
Biohit Oyj is a globally operating Finnish biotechnology company established in 1988. Biohit's mission is "Innovating for Health". The purpose of the company is to take social responsibility and produce innovation, new technologies and analysis systems for use in medicine, research institutions and industry, helping to promote research and diagnostics and to improve the quality of life of people by preventing disease, human suffering and financial loss. We are committed to social responsibility and it is our duty to spread knowledge about the Group I human carcinogen, acetaldehyde, and innovate and develop the marketing and availability of our products and services. Biohit is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland and its subsidiaries are located in China, Italy and the United Kingdom. Since 1999, Biohit's series B shares (BIOBV) have been listed in the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Oy Small cap/Healthcare sector. www.biohithealthcare.com
