Q. Hello! My family just returned from Hawaii, and I was excited to try a recipe for Kalua Pork until I saw liquid smoke listed in the ingredients. Is liquid smoke safe?

• A. Liquid smoke is made by passing wood smoke through a chamber where the vapor is captured and condensed. Along with authentic smoke flavor, the resulting liquid also contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can be carcinogenic.
• The amount of PAHs in liquid smoke depends on the type of wood and the smoking temperature, but the amounts are all quite small. Although I wouldn’t drink the stuff, I don’t think the occasional use of liquid smoke to prepare a special recipe is anything to be concerned about.
• PAHs are also formed when meat is grilled over coals or flames, but this hazard can be minimized with marinades and spices.
• See also: Does Grilled Meat Cause Cancer?
• Finally, antioxidants can protect cells from the damaging effects of PAHs and other carcinogens, so be sure to serve plenty of veggies with your Kalua Pork!
• Wood smoke image courtesy of Shutterstock, Figaro Liquid Smoke by Andrew Filer CC BY-SA 2.0