Monitoring of acrylamide concentrations in potato chips in Japan between 2006 and 2010

Abstract

Acrylamide levels in commercially available potato chips in Japan were monitored between August 2006 and June 2010 using the xanthydrol derivative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Seasonal and annual changes in acrylamide concentrations were determined. Nationwide bimonthly sampling of potato chips was carried out using a four-level design, and seasonal variations were detected in which the minimum acrylamide concentration was observed in August, and the maximum between February and June. Seasonal variations became less apparent after August 2008 as a result of annual effects and/or mitigation measures taken by the potato chip producers. Sampling uncertainties were separated into time-to-time, city-to-city, and lot-to-lot variation, and the largest variation was shown to be lot-to-lot including bag-to-bag.

Keywords:

• GC/MS
• statistical analysis
• process contaminants, acrylamide
• potatoes

Acknowledgements

This work was performed as part of a Research Project for Utilising Advanced Technologies in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Research and Development Projects for Application in Promoting New Policy of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and Regulatory Research Projects for Food Safety, Animal Health, and Plant Protection of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan.