Acrylamide in cocoa: a survey of acrylamide levels in cocoa and cocoa products sourced from the German market

The aim of this project was to conduct a comprehensive monitoring of acrylamide in cocoa and chocolate products. Within the scope of this research work, we examined 94 semi-finished cocoa products (cocoa beans, nibs, powder, masses, and cocoa butter) and 269 cocoa and chocolate products (milk chocolates, chocolates, chocolates with additional ingredients, white chocolates, and cocoa-containing drink powders) for their respective acrylamide content levels. The range of acrylamide content levels determined came to < LOQ-490 A mu g kg(-1) (LOQ, limit of quantification < 30 A mu g kg(-1)). Furthermore, our examinations showed that semi-finished cocoa products had higher acrylamide levels (mean value 190 A mu g kg(-1)), in the mean, than did cocoa and chocolate products (mean value 50 A mu g kg(-1)). In addition, it can be stated that all examined cocoa samples proved to have acrylamide levels distinctly below the general German signal value of 1000 A mu g kg(-1). An individual German signal value or EU indicative value/benchmark for acrylamide content levels in cocoa and chocolate products is currently not available.