Can tapioca in bubble tea cause cancer?

There are some reports stating that there is a possibility that tapioca pearls that are also known as “boba” pearls may cause cancer. Some claim that the tapioca pearls may contain some carcinogens that are known to cause cancer, possibly. The carcinogens that can be found in boba pearls can range in toxicity.

Another possible reason why it may cause cancer is one boba milk tea drink is known to contain a lot of sugar. People may drink it several times a day, which means that they are consuming more sugar than the human body is supposed to take. The excess in sugar may cause other health issues that the human body will not be able to take right now.

Tapioca pearls are one of the important ingredients used to make bubble tea. In recent years, studies are making claims that tapioca pearls can cause cancer. In 2012, a research carried out at the University Hospital Aachen in Germany shows that tapioca pearls contain polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, which is a cancer-causing chemical. PCB is a man-made organic chemical that was manufactured between 1929 and 1979. This chemical has been proven to cause cancer. The substances found in tapioca were styrene, acetophenone, and brominated substances. The Taiwanese government got involved and conducted a series of research on tapioca pearls. The conclusion was that these compounds are found in tapioca in very small quantities that are small to create any health problems.