Grilling Done Right: How To Avoid Contamination This Fourth Of July

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This fourth of July when you fire up the grill, you could potentially be putting yourself at risk.

The problem is the fine balance between cooking burgers long enough to protect against bacterial contamination and not cooking them long enough to produce the high amounts of HCAS, or heterocyclic amines.

HCAS are human carcinogens, and if you cookout this could be a risk.

There are ways to cut down on the harmful HCAS. One option; marinate the meat first in a sugar, oil, and vinegar mixture. Another idea is tart cherry. They reduce the heterocyclic amines. So should you be worried today if you are having a barbecue? I would not be concerned.

Enjoy the picnic if you cook out every now and then, you don't have to worry.