EU moves closer to regulating levels of Acrylamide in processed food

Acrylamide was first detected in 2002 by a Swedish working group in various starch-containing, thermally processed foods like French fries or potato crisps. In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed that acrylamide in food potentially increases the risk of developing cancer for consumers in all age groups.

INTERNATIONAL -- Already in July 2017, the European Commission adopted a final Draft Regulation to control levels of acrylamide in food. The draft includes the obligation for food business operators to apply appropriate mitigation measures for acrylamide reduction to certain foodstuffs. The aim of these measures is to achieve levels of acrylamide as low as reasonably achievable below certain Benchmark Levels. Furthermore, the Draft Regulation lays down requirements for sampling as well as performance criteria for the analysis of acrylamide. It is anticipated that the Regulation will come into force during spring 2018.

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Foodstuffs Referred to in the Draft Regulation Are:

• French fries and comparable products
• Potato crisps, snacks, crackers and comparable products from potato dough
• Bread
• Breakfast cereals (excluding porridge)
• Fine bakery wares
• Coffee
• Coffee substitutes
• Baby food and processed cereal based food intended for infants and young children  

Occurrence and Toxicology of Acrylamide
Acrylamide (2-propenamide) was first detected in 2002 by a Swedish working group in various starch-containing, thermally processed foods like French fries or potato crisps. Since then, it is commonly known that acrylamide can be developed during thermal procedures (baking, roasting, frying, deep-frying) from asparagine and reducing sugars like fructose and glucose. Acrylamide causes cancer within animal testing. In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed that acrylamide in food potentially increases the risk of developing cancer for consumers in all age groups.

Regulatory Provisions
So far, there are no maximum levels for acrylamide in food. With Commission Recommendation 2013/647/EU, the EU published modified Indicative Values for acrylamide in certain foodstuffs, which are based on monitoring results of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Besides, the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) published Signal Values for additional matrices. When exceeding Indicative or Signal Values, producers are obliged to implement measures to minimise the acrylamide levels within their products. Therefore they may use intervention steps summarised in the Acrylamide Tool Box (FoodDrinkEurope) or the Code of Practice for Acrylamide (Codex Alimentarius). The new Regulation will replace the system of Indicative and Signal Values. Most of the new Benchmark Levels are lower than the previous Indicative Values.

SOURCE Eurofins Deutschland