Acrylamide is a chemical found naturally in many foods. When these foods are processed at high temperatures, the levels of acrylamide tend to rise. This is of concern to health professionals because acrylamide has been identified as a possible carcinogen.
Acrylamide was among the chemicals on the Government of Canada’s Batch 5 Chemical Management Plans Challenge, launched on February 21, 2009. This challenge was issued to
ensure that Canadians’ exposure to acrylamide from food sources is kept low as possible. Health workers in Canada were committed to working with health authorities in other countries to better understand how this chemical substance is formed in foods and its effect on the human body. Health Canada is also extending their efforts in collaborating with the food industry to be watchful of processed food production, ensuring that the acrylamide content in these foods is greatly reduced.
How is acrylamide formed?
Asparagines are a type of amino acid found in several fruits and vegetables such as nuts and potatoes. When foods that contain asparagines (in particular, starchy foods like potatoes and grains) are heated to high temperatures together with certain sugar substances, acrylamide may be formed. High-temperature cooking includes baking, frying, roasting, and broiling. Longer cooking times may also trigger the formation of acrylamide, especially when cooking at a temperature above 120 degrees Celsius.
The formation of acrylamide can be better understood by the