Intake levels According to these data, infants, toddlers and children consume the highest levels of acrylamide, with an average of 0.5 to 1.9 µg/kg body weight/day. Adolescents and adult European consumers have an average intake of 0.4 to 0.9 µg/kg body weight/day.
DIETARY ACRYLAMIDE EXPOSURE IN HUMANS
For adults, estimated average intakes range from approximately 0.3 to 0.6 μg/kg of body weight (bw)/day. Children and adolescents tend to eat more acrylamide on a per body weight basis.
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. Generally, acrylamide is more likely to accumulate when cooking is done for longer periods or at higher temperatures.
For acrylamide, the safe harbor level is the same as the so-called no significant risk level (NSRL): 0.2 micrograms per day. An eight-ounce cup of Starbucks runs about 9 parts per billion acrylamide, which translates to about 2 micrograms, or ten times the NSRL.
The US National Toxicology Program (NTP) has classified acrylamide as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies acrylamide as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans.”
“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.
However, the amount of acrylamide in your average brewed coffee is 0.45 micrograms, according to a widely cited 2013 Swedish study. Compare this to the 39-82 micrograms of acrylamide that you'll find in your average serving of fast-food french fries, and that cup of coffee is looking less carcinogenic by the minute.
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.
Oats have the second highest acrylamide forming potential of rye, wheat, barley and oats. Several studies have found high levels of acrylamide in oat products that exceed the benchmark limits within the EU. These limits might be strict limits in future which every food producer needs to follow.
The major food sources of acrylamide are French fries and potato chips; crackers, bread, and cookies; breakfast cereals; canned black olives; prune juice; and coffee. Acrylamide levels in food vary widely depending on the manufacturer, the cooking time, and the method and temperature of the cooking process (5, 6).
Air fryers themselves aren't a cause of cancer, but air frying does produce certain compounds such as acrylamide, which is considered a "probable" carcinogen.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration monitors acrylamide levels in certain foods, and amounts in peanuts and peanut products are low or undetectable. If present, acrylamide naturally forms when peanuts are roasted; it is not added to peanut butter by manufacturers.
In the foodstuffs that have been examined, toasted bread has been found to contain up to 200 micrograms per kilogram, which converts to around 0.2 micrograms per gram, or for an average slice of toast (assuming it weighs around 24 grams) about 4.8 micrograms.
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.
Food choice and acrylamide exposure
Acrylamide is not typically associated with meat, dairy, or seafood products. Acrylamide is typically found in plant-based foods cooked with high heat (e.g., frying, roasting, and baking), not raw plant-based foods or foods cooked by steaming or boiling.
Tests with antioxidants
Even rosemary in small quantities – in one per cent of the dough – was enough to reduce the acrylamide content significantly. Flavonoids are another type of antioxidant found, among other things, in vegetables, chocolate and tea.
The different categories of tea (e.g., black, oolong, green, and Pu-erh) are the result of variations in the process after the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis are harvested. Acrylamide, a potentially carcinogenic substance, was detected in tea and has resulted in serious public concern.
The AA level in CC ranged from 235 to 897 ng/cigarette, whereas HTP reported an AA level between 99 and 187 ng/cigarette (Fig.
Acrylamide was identified in all tested samples of roasted cocoa beans, irrespective of process conditions. Its contents in chocolates produced from these beans were similar. The highest acrylamide concentration was found in whole cocoa beans roasted at 135°C and RH of 5.0%.
Acrylamide is a contaminant that has been found in finished drinking water and also in waters that could be used as drinking water sources in Minnesota.
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.
The higher the temperature of stir-or deep-frying and the longer the cooking time, the higher the concentration of acrylamide. Avoid scorching of potatoes and vegetables as much as possible when frying. Stop toasting slices of bread when the color of bread is still golden yellow.
How can acrylamide affect my health? The main targets of acrylamide toxicity are the nervous system and reproductive system. Nervous system effects such as muscle weakness, numbness in hands and feet, sweating, unsteadiness, and clumsiness were reported in some acrylamide workers.