Volume 13, Issue 6
Opinion
Open Access

Scientific Opinion on acrylamide in food

First published: 04 June 2015
Citations: 102
Panel members: Diane Benford, Sandra Ceccatelli, Bruce Cottrill, Michael DiNovi, Eugenia Dogliotti, Lutz Edler, Peter Farmer, Peter Fürst, Laurentius (Ron) Hoogenboom, Helle Katrine Knutsen, Anne‐Katrine Lundebye, Manfred Metzler, Antonio Mutti (as of 6 October 2014), Carlo Stefano Nebbia, Michael O'Keeffe, Annette Petersen (as of 6 October 2014), Ivonne Rietjens (until 2 May 2014), Dieter Schrenk, Vittorio Silano (until 21 July 2014), Hendrik van Loveren, Christiane Vleminckx, and Pieter Wester.
Correspondence: contam@efsa.europa.eu
Acknowledgement: The Panel wishes to thank the members of the Working Group on Acrylamide in Food: Cristina Bosetti, Michael DiNovi, Daniel Doerge, Peter Farmer, Peter Fürst, Manfred Metzler, Ivonne Rietjens (until 2 May 2014), Leo J Schouten, Dieter Schrenk and Christiane Vleminckx, for the preparatory work on this scientific opinion and the hearing expert: Lauren Jackson and EFSA staff: Fanny Héraud, Francesco Pomilio, Luisa Ramos Bordajandi and Enikö Varga for the support provided to this scientific opinion. The CONTAM Panel acknowledges all European Competent Authorities and other stakeholders that provided acrylamide occurrence data in food and supported the consumption data collection for the Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, as well as the EFSA Stakeholder Consultative Platform for the data submitted to EFSA.
Adoption date: 30 April 2015
Published date: 4 June 2015
Question number: EFSA‐Q‐2013‐00007
On request from: European Commission

Abstract

EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on acrylamide (AA) in food. AA has widespread uses as an industrial chemical. It is also formed when certain foods are prepared at temperatures above 120 °C and low moisture, especially in foods containing asparagine and reducing sugars. The CONTAM Panel evaluated 43 419 analytical results from food commodities. AA was found at the highest levels in solid coffee substitutes and coffee, and in potato fried products. Mean and 95th percentile dietary AA exposures across surveys and age groups were estimated at 0.4 to 1.9 µg/kg body weight (b.w.) per day and 0.6 to 3.4 µg/kg b.w. per day, respectively. The main contributor to total dietary exposure was generally the category ‘Potato fried products (except potato crisps and snacks)’. Preferences in home‐cooking can have a substantial impact on human dietary AA exposure. Upon oral intake, AA is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed to all organs. AA is extensively metabolised, mostly by conjugation with glutathione but also by epoxidation to glycidamide (GA). Formation of GA is considered to represent the route underlying the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of AA. Neurotoxicity, adverse effects on male reproduction, developmental toxicity and carcinogenicity were identified as possible critical endpoints for AA toxicity from experimental animal studies. The data from human studies were inadequate for dose‐response assessment. The CONTAM Panel selected BMDL10 values of 0.43 mg/kg b.w. per day for peripheral neuropathy in rats and of 0.17 mg/kg b.w. per day for neoplastic effects in mice. The Panel concluded that the current levels of dietary exposure to AA are not of concern with respect to non‐neoplastic effects. However, although the epidemiological associations have not demonstrated AA to be a human carcinogen, the margins of exposure (MOEs) indicate a concern for neoplastic effects based on animal evidence.

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