#acrylamide

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and #cancer risk: results from NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort | The BMJ
▻https://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k322

Firstly, ultra-processed foods often have a higher content of total fat, saturated fat, and added sugar and salt, along with a lower fibre and vitamin density.101112131415161719 Beyond nutritional composition, neoformed #contaminants, some of which have carcinogenic properties (such as #acrylamide, heterocyclic amines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), are present in heat treated processed food products as a result of the Maillard reaction.20 Secondly, the packaging of ultra-processed foods may contain some materials in contact with food for which carcinogenic and endocrine disruptor properties have been postulated, such as #bisphenol A.21 Finally, ultra-processed foods contain authorised,22 but controversial, food additives such as sodium #nitrite in processed meat or #titanium_dioxide (#TiO2, white food pigment), for which carcinogenicity has been suggested in animal or cellular models.2324

In this large prospective study, a 10% increase in the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diet was associated with a significant increase of greater than 10% in risks of overall and breast cancer. Further studies are needed to better understand the relative effect of the various dimensions of processing (nutritional composition, food additives, contact materials, and neoformed contaminants) in these associations.

#agro_industrie #aliments_transformés #additifs #santé #cancer

Via 60 millions de consommateurs

Biscuits pour bébés : une substance cancérogène détectée dans la marque Nestlé - Planetes360
▻https://planetes360.fr/biscuits-bebes-substance-cancerogene-detectee-marque-nestle

Cette substance a aussi été retrouvée dans des biscuits de marque Picot (Lactalis) et Carrefour, mais à des niveaux légèrement inférieurs au plafond toléré par l’UE…

Une concentration de 226,1 microgrammes par kg contre les 200 microgrammes fixés par les recommandations européennes. Ce taux supérieur d’acrylamide, substance classée comme cancérogène probable par l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) a été retrouvé dans des biscuits pour bébés de marque Nestlé vendus en France, et à des niveaux proches de ce seuil dans deux autres produits.

#santé #alimentation #toxicité

#EU drops law to limit cancer-linked chemical in food after industry complaint ▻https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/26/eu-drops-law-to-limit-cancer-linked-chemical-acrylamide-food-after-indu

Campaigners say leaked documents show ‘undue influence’ by the food industry after plans to limit #acrylamide - found in starchy foods such as crisps, cereals and baby foods - are weakened.

#failed_state #UE #cancer #agro_industrie

Une dizaine de substances « préoccupantes » dans l’#alimentation des jeunes #enfants
►http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2016/09/28/une-dizaine-de-substances-preoccupantes-dans-l-alimentation-des-jeunes-enfan

C’est l’une des plus vastes enquêtes jamais réalisées sur le sujet. L’Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (Anses) a publié, mercredi 28 septembre, une analyse des contaminants (métaux lourds, dioxines, pesticides…) présents dans l’alimentation-type des enfants de moins de trois ans. Après y avoir évalué la présence de plus de 500 contaminants, l’agence de Maisons-Alfort (Val-de-Marne) estime qu’une dizaine d’entre eux sont « préoccupants » et que les niveaux d’exposition actuels peuvent présenter des risques sanitaires.
L’Anses met en avant le plomb, l’#arsenic inorganique, le #nickel, l’#acrylamide et les #furanes (des composés se formant notamment lors des cuissons à haute température), les #PCB (polychlorobiphényles), des #dioxines ainsi que des #mycotoxines – des substances produites par des champignons contaminant parfois les #céréales. Les situations d’exposition à ces produits, tempère l’Anses, « ne sont pas systématiquement synonymes de survenue d’effets adverses ». Dans son avis, l’agence juge néanmoins « indispensable de mettre en place ou de renforcer des actions afin de diminuer l’exposition de la population infantile » à ces composés.

#plomb #lait #poissons

Baby foods, cereals and crisps found to contain raised levels of cancer risk chemicals
▻http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2745790/Baby-foods-cereals-crisps-contain-raised-levels-cancer-risk-chemicals.h

The FSA conducts annual tests for #acrylamide in food products. Its survey for 2013, published this week, found high levels of the chemical in apple rice cakes from Organix, Sunny Start baby wheat flakes and Heinz breakfast banana multigrain for babies.

Also affected were crisps, cereals and some frozen potato products, which were found to be likely to develop too much acrylamide if cooked to package instructions.

When food is cooked at high temperatures, a process called the #Maillard reaction makes it brown and adds taste and crunch. However, the reaction creates acrylamide.

The chemical is also used in industry to make polymers for applications in paper making, water treatment and sealants.

(...)

The FSA’s guidelines say that consumers should cook chips only to a light gold and should toast bread ‘to the lightest colour acceptable’ to reduce exposure to acrylamide.

This week, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued similar guidelines, including warning against storing potatoes in the fridge. This increases the sugar level, which is linked to browning, it said.

It added: ‘Tests show that acrylamide in the diet causes cancer in animals. Scientists conclude that acrylamide in food potentially increases cancer risk.’
The World Health Organisation has said the chemical ‘indicates a human health concern’ when found in food.

Dr Diane Benford, an FSA specialist who heads EFSA’s committee on food contaminants, said that when acrylamide breaks down in the body, another substance called glycidamide is formed.

She added: ‘Glycidamide is the most likely cause of gene mutations and tumours seen in animal studies.’

The British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, said acrylamide levels in food are falling. It added: ‘Retailers will continue to work with suppliers to limit the occurrence of acrylamide in foods.’

Cow & Gate, maker of Sunny Start, said safety is ‘incredibly important’ and it is investigating the ‘anomalous’ result.

Organix said it has reduced levels in its rice cakes since the tests and there is ‘no cause for concern’. Heinz said its affected baby cereal has been discontinued.

#sécurité_alimentaire

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/09/06/1409962833228_Image_galleryImage_Top_Brands_Tested_Graphic.JPG