Watch CBS News

Safe Labor Day Weekend Grilling

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - As we head into the Labor Day weekend there is no doubt that many of us will be having a barbecue or two.

It is one of the best parts of summer, but there is one thing you should keep in mind as you fire up the grill. There's a fine balance between cooking burgers long enough to protect against bacterial contamination, and not cooking them long enough to produce high amounts of HCAs, or heterocyclic amines.

HCAs are human carcinogens. If you cookout this could be a risk, but there are ways to cut down on the harmful HCAs.

One option, marinate the meat first in a sugar, oil, vinegar mixture. Another idea is a tart cherry. They reduce heterocyclic amines.
But be aware of tomato based marinade which can increase the carcinogens.

I think a key point is that if you cook out every now and then, you don't have to be overly concerned.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.