BLACK puddings may interfere with cancer screening tests, medical experts have said.
Researchers who conducted a study in Bury, described as the black pudding capital of the world, published their findings in the British Medical Journal.
Doctors carrying out screening tests for bowel cancer found that eating black puddings -- which contain pigs' blood -- can give false positive results in the Haemoccult test to detect gastrointestinal bleeding.
is widely used to screen for the cancer. It uses blood derivatives passed in the stool to detect gastrointestinal bleeding. People testing positive then have a colonoscopy.
The research team identified ten healthy volunteers from Bury, the British Medical Journal explained.
They were fed seven ounce black puddings and because of the pig's blood in the food, they returned positive results after screening.
As a result, patients should be advised to avoid black pudding during screening, the study concluded.
Black pudding consists of cooked pigs' blood, fat and rusk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article