{
  "id": 6426456,
  "title": "Steaming hot drinks may damage food pipe and increase oesophageal cancer risk",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/steaming-hot-drinks-may-damage-food-pipe-and-increase-oesophageal",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-09T12:57:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/health/steaming-hot-drinks-may-damage-food-pipe-and-increase-oesophageal-cancer-risk/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A vast UK study involving over a million participants reveals that ingesting very hot drinks like tea and coffee may heighten the risk of developing oesophageal cancer. This groundbreaking research, conducted by Oxford University scientists, underscores that consuming beverages at temperatures of 65 degrees Celsius or higher may triple the likelihood of this disease compared to those who prefer their drinks at a safer temperature.\n\nThe researchers advise that beverages at or above 65 degrees Celsius are considered \"very hot\" and pose a potential threat to the oesophagus, the food pipe that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Even milky teas and coffees may still retain dangerous heat levels, despite the addition of dairy products. The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, emphasize that waiting for beverages to cool down before consumption could significantly reduce this risk.\n\nWhile the absolute risk of developing oesophageal cancer remains low, experts estimate that avoiding very hot drinks could prevent one or two out of every ten cases. The study highlights that factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption pose far greater risks than the temperature of the beverage. Public health officials stress that simple adjustments to drinking habits, like allowing hot drinks to cool down slightly before drinking, can help mitigate this risk without requiring significant lifestyle changes.",
  "summary": "By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent United Kingdom research involving nearly one million participants suggests that consuming tea, coffee, and other beverages at very hot temperatures elevates the risk of developing oesophageal cancer. The study marks the largest of its kind to establish this specific health connection. Individuals who prefer their drinks very hot face […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}