WHO: Coffee can cause cancer if it’s very hot

London, June 15: There is no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer, the World Health Organization's cancer agency will say in a reverse of its previous warning, but it will also say all “very hot” drinks are probably carcinogenic.

The International Agency forResearchonCancer(IARC) had previously rated coffee as “possibly carcinogenic” but has changed its mind.

OnWednesdayitwillsayits latest review found “no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect” of coffee drinking and will point to some studiesshowingcoffeemayactually reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

At the same time, however, it will say other scientific evidence suggests that drinking anything very hot - around 65 degrees Celsius or above - including water, coffee, tea and other beverages, probably does cause cancer of the oesophagus.

Lyon-based IARC, which last year prompted headlines worldwide by saying processedmeatcancausecancer,reacheditsconclusionsafter reviewing more than 1,000 scientific studies in humans and animals. There was inadequate evidence for coffee to be classified as either carcinogenic or not carcinogenic.

IARC had previously put coffee as a “possible carcinogen” in its 2B category alongside chloroform, lead and many other substances.

Reuters