For instance, Utz's Home Style Kettle-Cooked Potato Chips scored the lowest of all tested potato chips with 117 per billion (ppb) of acrylamide, while the first lot of Utz Crisp All Natural Potato Chips contained a whopping 879 ppb of acrylamide. However, the second lot was found to contain only 433 ppb.
But guess what? Kettle Chips Lightly Salted Natural Gourmet Potato Chips contain acrylamide at 1,265 parts per billion. They're in the top 1% for acrylamide content in this FDA exploratory study of over 700 foodstuffs. Kettle Chips say acrylamide content fluctuates over a season.
“Acrylamide forms when foods like potatoes and cereals become crispy and brown. It even forms in roasted coffee beans.” That means acrylamide is in the crunch of potato chips, the crispy edges of French fries, and in toasted snacks and rich roasted coffees. But Stelwagen says it's not as much of a worry as it sounds.
It states the chips are about equal when it comes to fat, calories and carbohydrates. The major difference between the two is how they are made. Kettle-cooked chips are made in batches, while regular chips are made in a continuous process. Bottom line is they are both still fried in oil.
The primary difference between regular chips and kettle chips seems to be the processing method. Regular chips are continually-processed whereas kettle chips are processed in batches. Harold McGee in On Food and Cooking explains that the batch method results in a different texture of potato chip.
So whether you like the extra crunchy, thick texture from kettle chips or the thinner, crispier texture of regular potato chips, you won't be sacrificing any health benefits by choosing one or the other. It's just a matter of personal preference.
Drinking more water, a lot more water for some of us, will probably be the most important thing you can do to get rid of Acrylamide. However, make sure you are drinking pure water; otherwise you may inadvertently increase your exposure. Taking herbs to improve kidney and liver detoxification may be helpful.
Deep-fry potato products, such as chips and French fries to a golden yellow, or lighter colour. The oil temperature for cooking should ideally be below 175⁰C. Cooking to a golden yellow, or lighter colour, and deep-frying at lower temperatures will keep acrylamide levels low.
Decreasing cooking time to avoid heavy crisping or browning, blanching potatoes before frying, not storing potatoes in a refrigerator, and post-drying (drying in a hot air oven after frying) have been shown to decrease the acrylamide content of some foods (7, 8).
The highest mean acrylamide concentration was found in French fries (724 µg/kg) followed by McDonald's menu (459.5 µg/kg), chicken cuttled sandwich (273 µg/kg), pizza (250 µg/kg) and flat bread (230µg/kg).
Once in your body, acrylamide enters your body fluids. Acrylamide and its breakdown products leave your body mostly through urine; small amounts may leave through feces, exhaled air, and breast milk.
"Chips, like potato chips, are inflammatory because they are highly processed and so they increase insulin response very quickly, which can be inflammatory," continues Ellis Hunnes.
All types of coffee containing roasted beans contain some acrylamide. Coffee substitutes, such as cereal and chicory root coffees, also contain acrylamide if they have undergone a roasting process. The only type of coffee that does not contain acrylamide is that which contains unroasted, or green, coffee beans.
Frying potatoes to make potato crisps, hash browns or French fries provides favourable conditions for the formation of acrylamide, as potatoes contain high levels of asparagine and can contain high levels of reducing sugars.
Roasting time and temperature had a great influence on the acrylamide formation in coffee beans. Coffee beans roasted for longer time had less acrylamide. Additionally, coffee beans roasted at higher temperatures contained less acrylamide compared to those roasted at lower temperatures.
Air-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
Avoid very brown areas. Cook cut potato products such as frozen french fries to a golden yellow color rather than a brown color. Brown areas tend to contain more acrylamide. Do not store potatoes in the refrigerator, which can increase acrylamide during cooking.
Breakfast cereals – cornflakes and all-bran flakes are the worst offenders, while porridge oats contain no acrylamide at all.
Acrylamide forming substances (e.g., asparagine and reducing sugars) should be washed away from the surface of the potatoes and vegetables after they are cut by soaking them in water. Soaking them in water will reduce formation of acrylamide during frying.
Acrylamide is found mainly in foods made from plants, such as potato products, grain products, or coffee. Acrylamide does not form, or forms at lower levels, in dairy, meat, and fish products.
Chips are fine to eat when consumed in moderation, but watch out for high sodium content and trans fats. Note serving sizes before digging into a bag of chips. Kale chips and popcorn are great alternatives to make at home. Crunchy fruit, vegetables, and nuts are other chip alternatives.