ACRYRED (CA21149)

Acrylamide in food is considered a potential health hazard. It may lead to increased risk of cancer. Acrylamide forms during industrial food processing and home cooking. For years, the cereals processing industry has been engaged in reducing acrylamide formation through production process optimisations and establishment of guidelines. The 2017 EC Regulation on acrylamide sets benchmarks on acrylamide levels in food, which are considered to be either challenging or insufficient, depending on who is asked. However, if no drastic action is taken, future regulations may threaten the availability of cereals brands. ACRYRED, funded by Cost Action in 2022, aims to establish a multi-disciplinary research and communication network on reducing acrylamide formation, involving the entire value chain from grains to consumer products. If asparagine levels can be reduced through better breeds and farming practices, downstream acrylamide formation in cereals-based products can be reduced significantly. The urgency to resolve the problem is compounded by the fact that there is no grain of guaranteed low asparagine concentration commercially available to meet requirements for different food categories. Further, the processing industry does not have a reliable tool to measure the level of free asparagine contained in raw material. ACRYRED brings together plant breeders, the agricultural grain farming community, grain traders, European food processors, toxicologists, public regulators and consumer interest groups to establish non-GMO research requirements on asparagine formation in plants, as well as investigate new economic models that encompass the full supply chain. The Action will also elaborate new approaches to inform catering/hospitality and consumers about responsible cooking of cereal-based foods.