Study links hot drinks to cancer: What to know about your coffee and tea
Hot tea drinkers who enjoy their beverages 140 degrees could be increasing their chance of esophageal cancer by 90 percent, according to a new study.
The research, published last Wednesday in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Cancer, comes after the World Health Organization recommends warning against drinking any beverage hotter than 149 degrees.
"Based on the results of our study, drinking hot tea is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer,” said Farhad Islami, the study's lead author.
A 2002 study published in the Journal of Food Science found consumers preferred drinking coffee when the temperature was 140 degrees.
Here's a breakdown of how hot some of your favorite drinks can get:
According to the Tea Association of the USA, water with a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees is good for "big oolongs and white teas," while much hotter water is required for black teas.
The National Coffee Association says brewers should maintain a water temperature between 195 and 205 degrees for an optimal brew.
According to a beverage resource manual, the standard temperature for hot Starbucks drinks is between 150 and 170 degrees, not including Americanos. Children's drinks are typically served at 130 degrees, said the manual.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Dunkin' Donuts said their hot beverages are "prepared and served at industry standard temperatures," but would not give specific temperatures.
McDonald's could not be immediately reached for comment. The fast food chain made headlines when it was sued in the '90s over how hot its coffee was served. The lawsuit had revealed the coffee was served around 180 degrees.
Brewing hot drinks in a Keurig
The internal temperature of water inside a Keurig brewer is 192 degrees. But, that’s not necessarily the temperature of drinks dispensed from the units. The company says coffee, tea or hot cocoa temperatures “can vary greatly.” Brews in insulted cups, such as foam cups, usually reach between 180 to 185 degrees. Drinks brewed into a cold ceramic mug will be significantly cooler, according to the company. The Keurig K425 and K525 models offer settings to modify the temperature.
How to know if your drink is above 140 degrees
Not sure how hot your home brews are? Stick a meat thermometer in your hot water. It should give you a relatively accurate reading. In fact, a good test to see if your thermometer is calibrated properly is to submerge it in a glass of ice water – it should read 32 degrees. A candy thermometer or baby bath thermometer could also do the trick.
How worried should we be about this study?
Dr. Bernard J. Park, deputy chief of clinical affairs of thoracic service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, said the study is "noteworthy" but that there's no reason to give up your hot beverage habit.
"For the average American, it’s not as large a factor," said Park of the potential cancer risk hot tea might pose.
However, tea or coffee lovers should be careful not to drink a beverage that might be too hot.
"Anything that causes damage or injury to the inner layer of the esophagus or any hollow, viscous organ can be harmful," Park said.