Food Standards Agency
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Acrylamide and furan survey results published
Based on samples taken from 556 products collected between November 2011 and December 2013, the survey gives a snapshot of the range of acrylamide and furan levels in UK retail foods. Of the 556 products sampled, 544 were analysed for acrylamide and 266 analysed for furan.
The levels of acrylamide and furan reported do not increase concern about the risk to human health and the Agency has not changed its advice to consumers.
As with previous years, the survey results for acrylamide and furan will be sent to EFSA for collation, trend analysis and, in the case of furan, a risk assessment.
The science behind the story
Process contaminants are chemical substances that are produced naturally in food during manufacturing or home-cooking. They are absent in the raw foods or raw materials used to make the food, and are only formed when components within the raw foods or raw materials undergo chemical changes during processing.