Thursday June 16, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- The World Health Organization's cancer research agency has now claimed that there is no sufficient evidence to support its prior classification of coffee as a possible carcinogen.

In the past two decades, coffee has been listed as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC because some studies linked the popular beverage to bladder cancer.  The agency now said that the studies of coffee as a possible carcinogen failed to consider the potential influence of smoking on the cancer risk.

The IARC reviewed thousands of new studies and found coffee is not linked to other types of malignancies. Instead, many studies have suggested that drinking coffee may reduce risk of liver cancer among others.

On the other hand, the agency announced in a report released on Wednesday that very hot beverages of any sort are possible human carcinogens, meaning that drinking very hot beverages such as coffee and tea could potentially increase the risk of cancer such as esophageal cancer.

Teas are commonly consumed at 65 to 70 degrees Celsius (150 to 160 Fahrenheit) in China, Iran and countries in South America, according to the report.  Hot drinks served in cafes in North American Europe are said to be much lower.  (Maybe because cafe owners do not want to get sued for the potential injury caused by very hot coffees?)

Do not drink hot beverages when the temperature is too high to tolerate.  Our hands may tolerate up to 60 degree Celsius.  While hot coffee and teas are desired in many cases, any liquids ingested at 60 degree Celsius or even lower temperature may denature proteins and kill or injure cells when the contact time is longer enough.  Keep in mind our body temperature is 37 degree Celsius or 98.6 °F.  (David Liu)