Food Standards Agency
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Process contaminants survey published
The Agency has published the results of a study looking at the levels of certain chemicals that are produced as a result of food processing and home cooking, in a range of UK food products.
The results are from the third year of a rolling programme measuring the amounts of acrylamide, 3-MCPD (3-monochloropropanediol), furan and ethyl carbamate. These types of substances are known as 'process contaminants' and are found in a range of different food products.
Occurrence and levels for all of the process contaminants surveyed were in line with results from previous research and surveys carried out in the UK and internationally. Based on previous risk assessments, the occurrence and levels found do not increase concern about the risk to human health and do not affect Agency’s advice on what you should eat – the Agency advises that people should eat a healthy balanced diet.
The Agency’s three-year survey was conducted in response to a recommendation from the European Commission for member states to investigate the levels of acrylamide and furan in food and monitor the effectiveness of acrylamide reduction measures being implemented by the food industry. The Agency decided to extend the study to cover levels of 3-MCPD and ethyl carbamate, to gain a clear picture of the levels of a range of process contaminants in the food that is commonly eaten in the UK.
The science behind the story
Process contaminants are chemical substances that are produced in food during food manufacturing, cooking (including home cooking), packaging and other processing activities. Process contaminants are formed when components in food undergo chemical changes during processing. Processing methods may include fermentation, acid hydrolysis, smoking, drying as well as some types of cooking (such as baking, grilling, frying and barbecuing). Process contaminants can be formed in both manufactured and home cooked food. Some of the process contaminants that are of particular interest to the Agency are acrylamide, furan, 3-MCPD and ethyl carbamate.
.gif)
