In 2002, acrylamide was detected for the first time by Swedish scientists in heated, starchy foods. In animal studies, it is carcinogenic and damages genetic material. However, its effect on humans has not been conclusively clarified.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety has studied acrylamide levels in food over a long period of time and, based on data from 2007 to 2015, estimated the intake of acrylamide via food for the Austrian population. For adults, the average total daily intake of acrylamide is 0.15 μg/kg bw/day. The frequent eater consumes 1.57 μg/kg bw/day. Potato chips and gingerbread contribute the most to total exposure. In children, the average daily intake of the col-lective is 0.29 μg/kg bw/day, about twice as high as in adults. The high consumer in children consumes 1.77 μg/kg bw/day. As in adults, potato chips make the largest contribution to total food exposure. In children, however, it is French fries that are the second largest contributor to acrylamide intake at 22%.

Using the BMDL10 of 0.43 mg/kg bw/day for neurological effects, health concerns are not expected for both adults and children, even among high consumers. If the BMDL10 of 0.17 mg/kg bw/day is used for neoplastic effects (tumor formation), the MOE values are below the MOE of 10,000 even for average exposure of adults as well as children. Based on these results, health concerns for the population cannot be excluded.

D. HOFSTÄDTER*, J. LÜCKL, K. MARCHART, U. ALDRIAN, L. STADLMÜLLER