Acrylamide Formation and Different Mitigation Strategies during Food Processing - A Review

Thermal treatment can initiate the production of some undesirable compounds in foods during processing. Acrylamide is one among such compounds that is produced (in starch-rich foods) as a result of Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and free amino acids. Acrylamide has gained much attention owing to its wide occurrence, dietary exposure, and toxicity. Its formation mechanism and mitigation has been an area of interest for numerous researchers since its discovery in foods. Some reviews have already been published on acrylamide where its formation and mitigation has been discussed with reference to some specific group of foods and/or some specific mitigation technique. In others, the mitigation section does not cover all the aspects of acrylamide attenuation reported in the literature. The present paper provides the updated and comprehensive information on formation, occurrence, dietary exposure, toxicity, and mitigation of acrylamide in foods during processing.

Automated summary

Thermal treatment during food processing can lead to the production of undesirable compounds, such as acrylamide, which is generated through the Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and free amino acids in starch-rich foods. Acrylamide has attracted significant attention due to its wide occurrence, dietary exposure, and toxicity. This paper provides updated and comprehensive information on the formation, occurrence, dietary exposure, toxicity, and mitigation of acrylamide in foods during processing.