Acrylamide In Crisps Research Articles

Acrylamide in crisps: Effect of blanching studied on long-term stored potato clones

Acrylamide, a probable carcinogen, is formed via the Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and the amino acid asparagine during heating of carbohydrate-rich foods. Potatoes contain high levels of these precursors, and thus potato crisps can contain high levels of acrylamide. In this study, the effect of blanching on the concentration of precursors and acrylamide content was studied in three potato clones stored at 4 °C or 8 °C. After 6, 12 and 18 weeks of storage, potatoes were sliced and blanched for 3 min in water at 80 °C and deep-fat fried for 3 min at an initial frying temperature of 180 °C and a final frying temperature of 160 °C. Blanching reduced the acrylamide content by 51–73%. Interestingly, blanching affected the levels of the precursor sugars and asparagine, but not the acrylamide content to the same extent. The reduction of precursors was 17–66%. This may be due to restriction of the transport of precursors to the surface, as the availability of precursors for reactions is crucial for acrylamide formation. In conclusion, blanching was an efficient way to reduce acrylamide content in potato crisps, in addition to using potatoes low in asparagine and reducing sugars.

Kinetic modelling: A tool to predict the formation of acrylamide in potato crisps

Three empirical models were used to fit the formation of acrylamide in crisps of three different cold-sweetened potato genotypes, fried under the same experimental conditions. Statistical methods were used to compare the performance of the models, with the “Logistic-Exponential” model performing the best. The obtained model parameters for the formation of acrylamide showed improvement in precision compared to an earlier study, the precision of the parameter estimates for the degradation of acrylamide was still problematic. Nevertheless, the predictive capacity of the “Logistic-Exponential” model was tested, as this model showed a strong correlation between parameter a and the reducing sugar content of the raw potato. The predictions from this model for the formation of acrylamide in potato crisps were close to earlier reported experimental values. Therefore, the use of the “Logistic-Exponential” model as a tool to predict acrylamide in potato crisps seems promising and should be developed further.

Acrylamide in potato crisp—the effect of raw material and processing

Reducing sugars and free amino acids were analysed in slices from three potato cultivars before and after blanching (0–3 min). The potato crisps were deep fried at 185 °C for different times (3–8.5 min), and analysed for the concentration of acrylamide (AA) and moisture. Potato cultivar and the temperature during processing were important parameters for AA formation in potato crisps. The amount increased with an increase in the processing time. Blanching before deep-frying reduced the concentration of free asparagine and reducing sugar in the raw material. We found no effect of blanching as pretreatment on the concentration of AA in the potato crisps. Any relationship was not detected between the levels of asparagine in the different cultivars, before and after blanching, and the formation of AA in the crisp products. However, it was shown that the content of reducing sugars determined the level of AA after frying.

Comparison of two methods for acrylamide determination and dietary intake of acrylamide from potato crisps in Slovakia

Two GC/MS methods for acrylamide determination in potato crisps were used. By the method without derivatisation the presence of acrylamide was confirmed. The quantities of acrylamide were compared by the bromination method with <sup>13</sup>C<sub>3</sub>-acrylamide and D<sub>3</sub>-acrylamide as internal standards. A suitable agreement between the results obtained from two independent laboratories was achieved; the difference was less than 5%. Using average level of acrylamide in crisps 986.5 μg/kg and mean consumption data on potato crisps in Slovakia it was calculated that consumers are exposed to 8.5 μg acrylamide daily from its which means 0.12 μg/kg body weight/day. This amount contributes to 20–40% of daily acrylamide intake from food.