Furan: a heat-formed compound in canned and jarred foods and coffee, with liver effects in animal studies

A warmed can of soup on a cold day, a jar of baby food at lunchtime, the first coffee of the morning: furan forms in all of these when food is heated, especially in sealed cans and jars. Animal studies at high doses show liver damage and liver cancer, and European food scientists consider today's exposure a health concern, especially for babies who eat many jarred meals, while the US regulator's earlier estimate found intakes well below harmful levels. Because furan is volatile, some of it escapes when food is heated uncovered and stirred, a simple habit worth knowing.

Everyday exposure: where you meet it and how much

Furan is a colourless, volatile liquid. FDA scientists found that it forms in some foods more commonly than once thought, during traditional heat treatment such as cooking, jarring and canning. [1] FDA focused its testing on canned and jarred foods because they are heated in sealed containers, and found furan in soups, sauces, beans, pasta meals and baby foods. [1] Furan has likely been in food for many years; better instruments made it easier to detect. [1]

EFSA reported that infants are the most exposed group, mainly through ready-to-eat jarred or canned foods. For other age groups, exposure comes mainly from grain-based foods and coffee. [3] Related compounds, 2- and 3-methylfuran, add to exposure; 2-methylfuran levels in coffee can be four times higher than furan. [3]

Known and suspected harms

Evidence labels are editorial summaries, not individual risk predictions: established means recognized under the stated conditions; probable means a likely contribution with uncertainty; possible means limited evidence; disputed means assessors disagree. These labels do not describe how common an effect is.

• Established — liver damage and liver cancer in animals at high doses: furan causes cancer in animals given high doses. [1] EFSA's panel concluded from animal studies that liver damage and liver cancer are the most critical health effects; how furan might cause cancer in animals is not fully understood. [3] FDA notes that furan is considered possibly carcinogenic to humans based on high-dose animal tests. [2]
• Disputed — whether usual dietary exposure is a health concern: EFSA could not set a tolerable daily intake and used a margin of exposure instead; like JECFA, it concluded that the level of exposure to furan in food indicates a human health concern, with possible long-term liver damage. [3] FDA's earlier preliminary estimate was that consumer exposure is well below what it expects would cause harm, and it saw no evidence that people should change infants' and children's diets. [1]
• Established — heating in an open pot lowers levels: furan is volatile, so some evaporates when food is heated in an open container. [1,4]

Reducing avoidable exposure and harm

EFSA reports that reheating ready-to-eat meals for infants and young children in a hot water bath without a lid may cut exposure by about 15 to 30%. [3] Germany's BfR notes that stirring helps volatile furan evaporate from food, and recommends moderate preparation: "Don't char it; lightly brown it." [4] Toast picks up more furan the longer and darker it is toasted. [3]

What it is

Furan (CAS 110-00-9) is a small ring compound used in some chemical manufacturing. [1,5] In food it is a process contaminant: it forms during heating rather than being added. [1,3]

What it does and why it is used

Furan has no purpose in food. Exactly how it forms in food is not known; heating is probably an important factor, but there may be several pathways. [1]

Regulatory status and health context

Canada

We did not find a Canadian maximum level for furan in food. [1–4]

United States

FDA developed a method to measure furan, published exploratory data on furan in foods, and issued an action plan for furan in food in 2005. [2] We did not find an FDA limit or action level for furan in food. [1,2]

European Union

EFSA's 2017 assessment concluded that dietary exposure to furan indicates a health concern. [3] We did not find an EU maximum level for furan in food. [3]

Environmental notes

The sources used here do not assess furan in food as an environmental concern. [1–4]

Quick facts

• CAS: 110-00-9. [5]
• Forms in: canned and jarred foods, coffee, toast and other heated foods. [1,3]
• Most exposed: infants eating ready-to-eat jarred or canned meals. [3]
• EFSA 2017: exposure indicates a health concern. [3]
• Simple habit: heat canned food uncovered and stir it. [3,4]

Sources

All URLs were fetched on 2026-11-11. Source publication dates differ from this draft's review date.

1. FDA: Questions and answers on the occurrence of furan in food.
2. FDA: Exploratory data on furan in food.
3. EFSA: Furan in food, EFSA confirms health concerns.
4. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): Questions and answers on furan in food.
5. PubChem PUG REST: furan synonyms.