Is there anything to fear from acrylamide in food?

May 10, 2014

In this article, Associate Prof Tim Crowe shares his thoughts over acrylamide in food.

You may have seen some recent press over a Food Standards Australian and New Zealand survey of acrylamide levels in our food supply. Acrylamide is a chemical that forms naturally when certain starchy foods are cooked and is part of the reaction that causes food to brown.

Foods such as potato chips, bread, some breakfast cereals and even coffee can contain appreciable levels of acrylamide.

In rats and mice, acrylamide is a carcinogenic agent, yet the levels they are exposed to are hundreds of times higher than what we eat in our diet. While acrylamide is a potential human carcinogen, there is little research to show a clear link, but food regulatory bodies are keeping a close eye on things.

So, should you be quaking in fear at all the ‘cancer causing’ acrylamide you’re eating?

Firstly, humans have been eating acrylamide ever since the first caveman threw a Mammoth steak on the fire, so it has always been part of our food supply.

French Fries by Daniel Go. CC BY-NC 2.0

Simple ways you can reduce your exposure to acrylamide include:

• Browning food to the lightest acceptable colour
• Cooking food for the shortest time possible
• Pre-soaking or blanching potatoes prior to frying or baking and deep frying them below 175 C or baking below 230 C
• Making more use of steaming and microwaving in your cooking

Most of all, if you are eating mostly unprocessed foods that you prepare yourself, your exposure to acrylamide will be very low.

And when it comes to cancer risk, appreciate that the biggest factors that you have control over that can slash your risk of cancer include being as active as possible, maintaining a healthy weight, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, and not smoking.

Find out more about Tim on his blog.