Contaminant increase in EU biscuits

摘要

Scientists from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have warned that the amount of the potentially harmful contaminant acryiamide appearing in biscuits is increasing despite industry efforts to reduce its presence. Figures released in May by EFSA say tests showed the average presence of acryiamide in European Union (EU) biscuits in 2007 was 317 μg/kg, while between 2003 and 2006 it was 243 μg/kg. United Nations food health experts have concluded that acryiamide is potentially carcinogenic and genotoxic, and as a result, the EU food industry has developed voluntary'toolbox'guidelines preventing the formation of acryiamide, which usually results in baked and fried foods via the reaction of asparagine and reducing sugars at temperatures higher than 120℃.