Acrylamide is a chemical compound formed from sugars and amino acids (free asparagine), naturally present in food, when processed at high temperatures, such as frying, roasting, grilling and baking. It is considered to be a carcinogenic compound toxic to the nervous system of humans and animals. It was initially thought to be formed mainly in products produced from potatoes (chips and crisps) and cereal products (e.g., fresh bread, crispbread, toast, breakfast cereals, biscuits, crackers, etc.). Nowadays, it is known that other products, such as roasted and instant coffee, cereal coffee, cocoa, chocolate and chocolate products, roasted nuts and almonds, dried fruits (e.g., plums, pears, apricots, bananas), fried and extruded soy products, and even dried and roasted tea leaves, mainly of green tea, may also be sources of acrylamide.
Published at the end of November 2017, Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 of 20 November 2017 outlining mitigation measures and reference levels to limit the presence of acrylamide in food entered into force on 11.04.2018. The regulation determines:
- measures to reduce the level of acrylamide in foodstuffs where it may be formed,
- reference levels (for chips, potato crisps, snacks, crackers, bread, breakfast cereals (except oatmeal), small bakery products, coffee and coffee substitutes, and for baby foods and processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children) to be used to check the effectiveness of the mitigation measures taken,
- criteria for analytical methods for the determination of acrylamide in food.
According to the above-mentioned Regulation, it is the responsibility of food producers and suppliers to apply appropriate mitigation measures and to establish a sampling and analytical programme.
The laboratory of J.S. Hamilton Poland has tested acrylamide content in a variety of food products for many years now. The accredited method for the determination of acrylamide based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection meets the performance criteria mentioned in Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 of 20 November 2017.
If you are planning on securing compliance with the criteria, contact us today to schedule testing for your first batch of samples.