- Physico-chemical
Process and environmental contaminants: acrylamide and PAHs
Analytical determination for the control of contaminants generated during thermal processing or through environmental exposure, with technical support for interpretation and decision-making.
Detection and analysis of emerging contaminants
Certain chemical contaminants may occur unintentionally in food, either due to processing conditions (e.g. heat treatments) or as a result of environmental and technological contamination.
In this context, acrylamide forms naturally during the cooking/processing of starch-rich foods at high temperatures and low moisture levels (frying, toasting, roasting, baking), and is associated with browning reactions such as the Maillard reaction.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), meanwhile, comprise a broad group of substances generated mainly by the incomplete combustion of organic matter and can enter food through environmental sources (e.g. industrial processes, fires) or through operations such as smoking, drying and heating.
Conventional approaches based on occasional checks or without an analytical plan tailored to the matrix may be insufficient due to the diversity of foods affected, variability between batches and the influence of processing parameters. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks require operators to implement control measures and, in certain cases, comply with established maximum levels for contaminants (for example, PAHs under the framework of maximum contaminant levels), increasing the need for robust analytical data to manage compliance and risk.
Our solution
AINIA offers a specialised technical service for emerging contaminants, aimed at providing objective, contextualised information to support technical risk management.
What the service does
It generates analytical results on acrylamide and/or PAH levels in target matrices, with an approach focused on control, verification and technical support.
What the service does not do
It does not replace the operator's responsibility for risk management, nor does it automatically entail regulatory decisions in itself; the results are used as evidence to support internal decisions (e.g. process control, batch release, investigation of deviations, review of specifications).
AINIA has analytical capabilities for the determination of contaminants, including PAHs and acrylamide, and operates under quality systems aligned with ISO/IEC 17025.
Applications
- Analytical verification of acrylamide in susceptible products (e.g. potatoes and potato products, cereals/baked goods, coffee) to support control plans and the assessment of variability between batches.
- Determination of PAHs in products where they may form during smoking or high-temperature processing, or occur through environmental exposure, to support internal controls and the assessment of deviations.
- Analytical support to assess the performance of process changes (e.g. roasting/baking/smoking conditions) from a diagnostic and verification perspective, without implying that the service includes the implementation of measures.
- Generation of analytical evidence to respond to technical requirements from customers, audits or internal controls, within the framework of applicable contaminant requirements.
Impact and benefits
- Availability of analytical data on acrylamide and/or PAHs to strengthen the control of process and environmental contaminants.
- Improved decision-making capacity when dealing with deviations (e.g. batches with elevated levels, formulation/process changes, review of suppliers or smoking conditions), reducing uncertainty based on assumptions.
- Technical support for compliance management within regulatory frameworks that establish mitigation/monitoring requirements (acrylamide) and maximum levels for certain contaminants (PAHs under contaminant regulations).
- Strengthening the technical traceability of chemical safety controls by providing evidence for internal control plans and internal communication (quality, production, R&D).
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