by Carlos Fierro

Before you bite into that “healthy” chicken breast sandwich, reconsider. A class action lawsuit brought by two Connecticut residents against McDonald’s, Burger King and Friendly’s, accuses the restaurant chains of failing to warn customers that their grilled chicken products contain a dangerous carcinogen.

Independent studies have shown that the restaurant chain’s grilled chicken contains PhIP, a chemical that increases the risk of cancer, even when consumed in small amounts. PhIP doe not exist naturally in chicken, but forms when animal muscle is cooked at high temperatures. The federal government has known about the dangers of PhIPs, which are one of a group of carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines, for some time. In 2005 the federal government officially listed HCAs as a carcinogen. California has listed PhIPs as a carcinogen since the 90s.

Cancer Project President, Neal D Barnard stated that “Consumers deserve to know that grilled chicken from McDonald’s and other fast-food chains can increase your risk of cancer, even a grilled-chicken salad increases the risk of developing some cancers, including breast and prostate cancer.” The Cancer Projects is providing council for the plaintiff.

In a separate lawsuit, brought on September 23 in California, by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) against KFC, PCRM claimed that KFC’s products contained PhIPs and other HCAs. In 12 samples taken from two locations, all 12 samples were found to contain PhIPs.