An Apple a Day Keeps the Oncologist Away?

Apples and fruits are generally considered to be healthy; but these complex chemical factories contain many hundreds of different compounds, and not all of them are good for you. Take furan, for example; tiny amounts of this suspected carcinogen are produced in apple cider (and probably apple juice) if the beverage is left exposed to sunlight or UV (Fan & Geveke ‘07). Furan is also produced when cut pieces of fruit are left lying around; although apple slices are relatively unaffected, while grape and pineapple produce rather larger amounts (Fan & Sokorai ’08). Apples and plant foods in general also contain traces of fungal toxins, some of which, such as the Aflatoxins, are known carcinogens. ........

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