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(KSL News) -- With the arrival of spring, out comes the old barbecue. But before you heat the grill, a warning from experts -- if you're not careful, you could increase your risk of getting cancer.
Dr. Angelo De Marzo, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center: "We'd like people to know that charring meat and cooking meat to very high temperature, including fish and chicken, can produce chemicals that we think can cause cancer."
John Hopkins University researchers identified a specific compound called PHIP. It forms when meat is charred. The compound sparks the growth of prostate cancer in rats.
Most people don't eat the black, crusty edges of charred meat, so many aren't worried.
"Until some more, stronger conclusive study comes out, I really don't think I'm going to change my eating habits. It tastes good. That's what's barbecuing is all about."
To make sure you grill meat safely, clean your grill before cooking, turn the flames down and flip your meat several times while it's cooking, and finally, cut away any charred pieces before serving.
