ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ethyl carbamate

Okay kiddo, so ethyl carbamate is a chemical that is produced naturally during the fermentation process in alcoholic beverages like beer and wine. It can also be formed when food containing amino acids and alcohol are cooked or preserved together, like in certain cured meats.

Now, ethyl carbamate isn't necessarily a good thing for us to have in our food and drinks. It has been shown to cause cancer in animals, and some studies suggest that it could be harmful to humans too. So, scientists and food regulators want to limit the amount of ethyl carbamate that we consume.

To do this, they have set guidelines for the maximum amount of ethyl carbamate that can be present in alcoholic beverages and certain food products. They also encourage manufacturers to take steps to reduce the production of ethyl carbamate during processing.

So, in short, ethyl carbamate is a chemical that can be found in some foods and drinks, but we want to limit our exposure to it because it could be harmful to our health.
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