Reducing Acrylamide in Fried Snack Products by Adding Amino Acids

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aims of this study were to develop commercial methods for reducing the acrylamide content in processed foods and apply them to commercial snacks. The formation of acrylamide in fried foods was found to depend on the composition of raw materials as well as the frying time and temperature. In potato chips, acrylamide was rapidly formed at over 160°C, with the amount proportional to the heating duration and temperature. Free amino acids were used to reduce acrylamide, with lysine, glycine, and cysteine having the greatest effects in the aqueous system. Lysine and glycine were effective at inhibiting the formation of acrylamide in wheat‐flour snacks. In potato snacks, the addition of 0.5% glycine to pallets reduced acrylamide by more than 70%. Soaking potato slices in a 3% solution of either lysine or glycine reduced the formation of acrylamide by more than 80% in potato chips fried for 1.5 min at 185°C. These results indicate that the addition of certain amino acids by soaking the uncooked products in appropriate solutions is an effective way of reducing acrylamide in processed foods.