Acrylamide content in French fries prepared in households: A pilot study in Spanish homes. (15th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mesias, Marta; Delgado-Andrade, Cristina; Holgado, Francisca; Morales, Francisco J.
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 260(2018)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2018-09-15
• Subjects: EFSA European Food Safety Agency -- GC-FID gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection -- LoQ limit of quantification; Acrylamide -- French fries -- Process contaminants -- Food preparation -- Consumers -- Frying -- Colour; Acrylamide (PubChem CID: 6579); Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.03.140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: European Commission has established mitigation measures to reduce acrylamide. A randomized observational study is designed for preparation of French fries at home. The median and mean acrylamide content is significantly higher than reported by EFSA. Sugar and asparagine in the tuber do not explain acrylamide content. The chromatic parameter a ∗ is a robust index for acrylamide classification. Abstract: An observational cross-sectional pilot study in 73 Spanish households was conducted to evaluate the impact of consumer practices on the formation of acrylamide during the preparation of French fries from fresh potatoes applying one stage frying. 45.2% of samples presented acrylamide concentrations above the benchmark level for French fries (500 µg/kg). 6.9% of samples exceeded 2000 µg/kg and the 95th percentile was 2028 µg/kg. The median and average values were significantly higher than the EFSA report for this food category, suggesting that the total exposure to acrylamide by the population could be underestimated. In this randomised scenario of cooking practices, the content of reducing sugar and asparagine did not explain the acrylamide levels. However, the chromatic parameter a ∗ of the fried potato was a powerful tool to classify the samples according to the acrylamide benchmark level regardless of the agronomical characteristics of the potato or the consumer practices.