News from CRIS: In the News - Spicy Food Safety
June 24, 2024
Why were the spicy noodles recalled?
The Danish regulatory agency overseeing food safety issued a recall of spicy noodles due to the potential for folks to be “poisoned” by excessively high capsaicin levels.
Of note, we didn’t find information supporting the idea that anyone had been “poisoned” or experienced long-term adverse health effects due to spice levels from the recalled noodles. We did find a small study suggesting that the spicy noodles may temporarily increase intraocular pressure but not to clinically significant levels.
What is hot sauce? How do foods become spicy?
In the U.S., hot sauce typically refers to any sauce, salsa, or seasoning made primarily from chili peppers, found in the genus Capsicum, combined with other ingredients.
Food becomes spicy when chilis containing capsicum is added to change the flavor profile or a condiment like hot sauce is added to the food.
Chili peppers are native to the Americas, spread across the globe through trade routes, and were further cultivated throughout the world.
What causes the spiciness or hotness we experience from some foods?
We experience the spicy flavor and sensation due to capsaicin. Capsaicin is the active component found in chili peppers.
Capsaicin is considered a chemical irritant and produces a burning sensation when mammals, including humans, come in contact with the chemical ingredient.
We often intentionally come into contact with capsaicin through cooking. However, it doesn't only cause a burning sensation when eaten. When in contact, it can cause a burning sensation on our skin, eyes, and other body parts.
The burning sensation is most intense on body parts with mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth, etc.). That's why it's essential to wear gloves when handling chili peppers and wash our hands after handling the peppers.
Are chili peppers good for me? Are they healthy?
Chili peppers are an excellent food as they are low in calories, fats, carbohydrates, and protein but contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals necessary for a healthy diet (1).
As part of a balanced diet, chili peppers impart great flavor to dishes and boost nutritional content without adding excess calories, fats, or sodium to a meal.
Two epidemiological studies even suggest that regular chili consumption, as part of a well-rounded diet, may improve life span (1,2). While others disagree, there's no current research showing chili peppers cause harm to folks without chili-pepper-related allergies (1,2).
How is risk characterized?
Risk characterization combines information from hazard identification, dose-response assessment, and exposure assessment to estimate the likelihood of adverse health effects. This step answers the question: "What is the risk?"
It provides a comprehensive picture of the potential health impact of a substance based on the identified hazards and the assessed exposure levels.
Is capsaicin good for me? Is it healthy?
Both hot sauces and chili peppers contain capsaicin. Researchers have found that capsaicin possesses a host of positive health-related attributes, including,
-
reducing neuropathic pain that can be caused by varying health conditions (1,2,3).
-
helping manage weight and weight loss (1).
Other early studies in controlled laboratory settings show promising results around capsaicin, which may pave the way for future research and potential medical advancements, including,
While research suggests there may be health benefits associated with capsaicin, the scientists in the listed studies are using a higher capsaicin concentration in doses and at dose rates that you cannot typically mimic through your diet.
Research helps us advance our understanding of specific compounds and how to use those compounds to improve health in more ways than just diet alone.
...
To continue reading the entire blog post, visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/in-the-news-spicy-food-safety.