EFSA Acrylamide risk opinion remains unchanged

Efforts to reduce acrylamide remain a priority as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concludes risk assessments regarding the carcinogen will stay the same.

EFSA organised a scientific colloquium in Italy last month, to debate how the current position of acrylamide may have changed since conclusions regarding it safety in 2005, as well as future challenges on its potential toxicity and cancer risk.

Following a review of the evidence on the chemical, EFSA said: "The consensus among the scientists was that the latest evaluation on acrylamide carried out by JEFCA agreed by EFSA, was still relevant and there is currently no need to revise the risk assessment.

"However, additional new data are expected to become available within the next year that may reduce uncertainties and hence may call for revision of the risk assessment advice,"EFSA added.

This means reformulation efforts by manufacturers are still relevant and gives ongoing support to commercial solutions, such as DSM and Novozymes respective acrylamide-reducing enzymes.

In 2005, EFSA endorsed a risk assessment on acrylamide in food, which was carried out by the Joint Food and Agriculture organisation and World Health Organisation (JEFCA).

It decided the margins of exposure for average and high consumption consumers were low for a compound that is genotoxic and carcinogenic, and that this factor may indicate a human health concern.