Restaurants Elevate Air Pollutants

Commercial food cooking is a known source of air pollutants, as smoke is emitted from the cooking process, thereby exposing humans and the environment to a variety of gases and tiny solid particles. University of Minnesota researchers have found that fatty foods cooked with high heat, especially with open flames, such as cooking hamburger patties on a conveyor broiler, are a prime culprit.  Research by one of the teams’ members previously concluded that for every 1,000 pounds of hamburger cooked on conveyor broilers, 25 pounds of emissions are created. Additionally, the use of certain oils also can increase emissions, as the researchers estimate that for 1,000 pounds of chicken cooked in a wok with peanut oil, 45 pounds of emissions are produced.  Noting that “Not only do these emissions affect air quality, but they contain chemicals that are known carcinogens,” the researchers urge that scientists “assess what needs to be replicated in standardized laboratory tests, and to suggest better methods of emission control."