High-profile cancer reviews trigger controversy

Kai Kupferschmidt

Science 24 Jun 2016:
Vol. 352, Issue 6293, pp. 1504-1505
DOI: 10.1126/science.352.6293.1504

Summary

On 15 June, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), released a statement concluding there isn't enough evidence to say that coffee causes cancer, but that very hot beverages are probably carcinogenic. IARC, the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization, has released verdicts on the human carcinogenicity of almost a thousand products and environmental factors since 1972, from plutonium and shift work to coffee and processed meat. The reviews, produced primarily for regulatory agencies, have come under fire from scientists who say that they are confusing and of little help to consumers, and that IARC's focus on cancer hazards instead of risks is outdated.