title: Studies on the stability of acrylamide in food during storage.
abstract: Acrylamide levels in a variety of food samples were analyzed before and after 3 months of storage at 10 degrees-12 degrees C. The analysis was performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) using deuterium-labeled acrylamide as internal standard. Acrylamide was stable in most matrixes (cookies, cornflakes, crispbread, raw sugar, potato crisps, peanuts) over time. However, slight decreases were determined for dietary biscuits (83-89%) and for licorice confection (82%). For coffee and cacao powder, a significant decrease occurred during storage for 3 or 6 months, respectively. Acrylamide concentrations dropped from 305 to 210 microg/kg in coffee and from 265 to 180 microg/kg in cacao powder. On the contrary, acrylamide remained stable in soluble coffee as well as in coffee substitutes. Reactions of acrylamide with SH group-containing substances were assumed as the cause for acrylamide degradation in coffee and cacao. Spiking experiments with acrylamide revealed that acrylamide concentrations remained stable in baby food, cola, and beer; however, recovery levels dropped in milk powder (71%), sulfurized apricot (53%), and cacao powder (17%). These observations suggest that variations in the acrylamide content of food, especially in coffee and cacao, can vary depending on the storage time because special food constituents and/or reaction products can affect the levels.
authors.affiliation: Eurofins, Wiertz-Eggert-Jörissen, Stenzelring 14 b, D-21107 Hamburg, Germany. katrin.hoenicke@wej.de
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoenicke
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gatermann
mesh_terms: D020106:Acrylamide / Q000737:chemistry*; D001939:Bread; D002099:Cacao; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003069:Coffee; D003903:Deuterium / Q000737:chemistry; D002523:Edible Grain; D005502:Food; D005504:Food Analysis; D005506:Food Contamination; D005511:Food Handling; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee; D020106:Acrylamide; D003903:Deuterium