Frédéric Mestdagh

Influence of oil degradation on the amounts of acrylamide generated in a model system and in French fries

Acrylamide formation in foodstuffs is subjected to different influencing factors. This study investigates the specific impact of both oil oxidation and oil hydrolysis on the formation of this probable human carcinogen. This was achieved using two heating methodologies. The first one was based on a closed stainless steel tubular reactor, in which different homogenized potato powder mixtures were heated. Doing so, possible changes in the altered heat transfer properties of the oil upon degradation are excluded since direct contact between the food and the heat medium is eliminated. The results obtained from these experiments were compared with standardized French fry preparation trials. Using both heating methodologies, acrylamide formation was proven to be independent upon oil oxidation and hydrolysis status in the experimental conditions used. More specifically, no evidence from the experimental results could be found that, due to oxidative or hydrolytic oil degradation, heat transfer properties of the oil were changed in such an extent that acrylamide formation during French fry preparation would be significantly influenced. Finally, it could be concluded that the investigated oil degradation products, such as glycerol, mono-, and diacylglycerols, did not significantly influence the acrylamide formation.

Hypochlorous and Peracetic Acid Induced Oxidation of Dairy Proteins

Hypochlorous and peracetic acids, both known disinfectants in the food industry, were compared for their oxidative capacity toward dairy proteins. Whey proteins and caseins were oxidized under well controlled conditions at pH 8 as a function of the sanitizing concentration. Different markers for protein oxidation were monitored. The results established that the protein carbonyl content was a rather unspecific marker for protein oxidation, which did not allow one to differentiate the oxidant used especially at the lower concentrations. Cysteine, tryptophan, and methionine were proven to be the most vulnerable amino acids for degradation upon hypochlorous and peracetic acid treatment, while tyrosine was only prone to degradation in the presence of hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid induced oxidation gave rise to protein aggregation, while during peracetic acid induced oxidation, no high molecular weight aggregates were observed. Protein aggregation upon hypochlorous acid oxidation could primarily be linked to tryptophan and tyrosine degradation.

Assessment of the acrylamide intake of the Belgian population and the effect of mitigation strategies.

The acrylamide (AA) intake of the Belgian consumer was calculated based on AA monitoring data of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and consumption data of the Belgian food consumption survey coordinated by the Scientific Institute for Public Health (3214 participants of 15 years or older). The average AA exposure, calculated probabilistically, was 0.4 µg kg−1 body weight (bw) day−1 (P97.5 = 1.6 µg kg−1 bw day−1), the main contributors to the average intake being chips (23%), coffee (19%), biscuits (13%), and bread (12%). Additionally, the impact of a number of AA mitigation scenarios was evaluated (German minimization concept, scenarios for mitigation from the literature, signal values), which is an important issue for public health as well as for policy-makers. Specific actions in cooperation with the food industry to reduce the AA content of foods seems to be a more efficient strategy than mere implementation of signal values. Considering that an important share of the AA intake is due to prepared meals, the catering industry as well as consumers need to be better informed on the various possibilities for keeping the AA content of meals as low as possible.

Implementation of acrylamide mitigation strategies on industrial production of French fries: challenges and pitfalls

This study evaluated various additives or process aids on the industrial production of French fries, based on their acrylamide mitigation potential and other quality parameters. The application of acetic and citric acid, calcium lactate and asparaginase was investigated on the production of frozen par-fried French fries at the beginning and end of the 2008 and 2009 potato storage season. Despite the fact that some of these treatments significantly reduced acrylamide content of the final product in preliminary laboratory experiments, their application on the industrial production of French fries did not result in additional acrylamide reductions compared to the standard product. Asparaginase was additionally tested in a production line of chilled French fries (not par-fried). Since for this product a longer enzyme-substrate contact time is allowed, a total asparagine depletion was observed for the enzyme treated fries after four days of cold storage. French fries upon final frying presented acrylamide contents below the limit of detection (12.5 μg kg⁻¹) with no effects on the sensorial properties of the final product.

Importance of Oil Degradation Components in the Formation of Acrylamide in Fried Foodstuffs

This study investigates the importance of selected oil degradation components and some analogues in the formation of acrylamide. For this, a model system containing silica gel, PBS buffer, and oil was heated in a closed tubular reactor, under practically relevant heating conditions. Several probable acrylamide precursors were mixed together with free asparagine in the model system, such as partial glycerides, glycerol, acrolein, acrylic acid, and several aldehydes. Only the heated model system containing acrolein and asparagine showed a significantly higher acrylamide content compared to the control to which only asparagine was added. It was postulated that a nucleophilic 1,2-addition of the alpha-amino group of free asparagine to the carbonyl function of acrolein would lead to the formation of acrylamide. This hypothesis could partially be confirmed, replacing acrolein with other alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. However, the contribution of acrolein to the overall formation of acrylamide appeared to be negligible in the presence of a reducing sugar, indicating that in foodstuffs the importance of acrolein and other oil degradation products is probably small.

Effective quality control of incoming potatoes as an acrylamide mitigation strategy for the French fries industry

The correlation between sugar levels in raw material (potatoes), brown colouring and formation of acrylamide in French fries was investigated. The objective was to identify incoming potatoes (raw material) with a high potential for acrylamide formation. Ten different potato varieties commonly used in the Western European French fries industry were stored at 8°C and samples were taken throughout the storage time. The current quality control used in the French fries industry for incoming potatoes is poorly correlated with acrylamide in the final product (r = 0.74). Changing the quality control parameter from colour to reducing sugars in raw material did not improve the correlation (r = 0.72). The best correlation was obtained with the Agtron colour measurement after blanching and a two-stage frying (r = −0.88). It was concluded that alternative entrance control measurements could provide better mitigation of the acrylamide issue in French fries from the start of production. These alternatives, however, are less cost-effective and more difficult to implement.

New Insight into the Role of Sucrose in the Generation of α-Diketones upon Coffee Roasting

The origin and formation pathways of the buttery-smelling α-diketones 2,3-butanedione and 2,3-pentanedione upon coffee roasting were studied by means of biomimetic in-bean experiments combined with labeling experiments. For this purpose natural sucrose in the coffee bean was replaced by fully or partially 13C-labeled sucrose or by a mixture of unlabeled and fully 13C-labeled sucrose (CAMOLA approach). The obtained data point out that sucrose contributes to both α-diketones; however, its importance and reaction pathways clearly differ. Whereas the major part of 2,3-pentanedione originates from sucrose (about 76%), its contribution to 2,3-butanedione is much lower (about 35%). Formation from intact sugar skeleton is the major pathway generating 2,3-pentanedione from sucrose, whereas 2,3-butanedione is mainly generated by recombination of sucrose fragments. The contribution of glucose and fructose moieties of sucrose to both α-diketones is comparable. Finally, kinetic experiments with fully labeled sucrose showed that the contribution of sucrose changes during roasting.