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Acrylamide and Furans UK Retail Survey 2020-21

Acrylamide and Furans Survey Summary

The FSA commissioned a rolling programme of surveys on Acrylamide and Furans in a range of UK foods bought in July-August of 2020 and 2021. The results from this survey do not increase our concern about the risk to human health.

Last updated: 2 October 2024
See all updates
Last updated: 2 October 2024
See all updates

Introduction

Food samples were selected to be exploratory as well as including food groups specified in European Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/1888 on monitoring acrylamide in food and Retained EU Legislation Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158, which sets benchmark levels for some foods. A total of 292 products were sampled, with 162 in Year 1 and 130 in Year 2.  

Retained EU Legislation Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 stipulates that for various foods, food business operators should use the measures in the Regulation and include them as part of their food safety management system. This Regulation also established ’benchmark levels’ (BMLs) which applied from 11 April 2018. These benchmark levels were established to provide a measure for how well mitigation methods used to reduce acrylamide are performing. Not all foods sampled by this survey are covered by the benchmark levels set out in Regulation 2017/2158, as sampling was intended to gather data on a wider variety of products. 

The highest levels of acrylamide were observed in vegetable crisps (of which carrot and parsnip components contained the highest levels), an extruded vegetable snack product, coffee, a sample of dried apricots and a sample of olives in brine. These findings were similar in both 2020 and 2021. 

Where an acrylamide level exceeds a BML, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) asks the local authority to investigate with the food business operator what action has been taken to limit acrylamide and to see if more can be done. An exceedance does not necessarily mean a health risk or that enforcement action may be needed. 

There are no action levels for furans. Most samples contained low levels of furans. The highest levels were observed in coffee. When these were used to prepare beverages the resulting levels of furans were much reduced, typically around 1-2% of the levels in the dry coffee. 

Background 

Acrylamide and furans are produced naturally when some foods are cooked or processed at high temperatures. In October 2016, The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) published a risk assessment on acrylamide in the diet of infants and young children and concluded there was a potential concern regarding the development of cancers. In February 2019, the COT published a statement on chemicals in the diet of infants and young children, including furans, and found that exposures to furans are of potential concern. There is limited data on methyl furans in food, which means these conclusions can change as we gain new information. 

Levels of acrylamide and furans should be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). To achieve this, the FSA is working to gather data on these substances in food and to make sure that the mitigation measures in Retained EU Legislation Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 are being implemented. 

Acrylamide 

Acrylamide is formed when foods containing the natural occurring amino acid asparagine and certain sugars are heated at temperatures over 120°C. Acrylamide has been found in a range of home-cooked and processed foods, including potato crisps, French fries, bread, crisp breads, and coffee. 

Furan and alkylfurans 

Furans (meaning furan and furan analogues, known as alkylfurans) are also formed in cooking and food processing. They are found in foods such as coffee, potato snacks and canned foods which have been heated to a high temperature (for example roasting, frying, canning etc.).  Alkylfurans such as 2-methylfuran, 3-methylfuran and 2,5-dimethylfuran may occur together with furan and increase overall dietary exposures to furans, necessitating the collection of occurrence data. 

Furans evaporate easily, but they cannot evaporate from processed food contained in an airtight sealed pack until the container is opened. Furans may be present in the sealed food though levels will reduce over time once the pack is opened. 

Methodology 

Sampling 

A detailed sampling plan was agreed with the contractor, Fera Science. Sample purchase and collection was subcontracted to Hallmark Veterinary & Compliance Services. A total of 292 samples were purchased over the two-year period. In year one 162 samples were purchased and in year two 130 samples were purchased. Products were categorised according to Retained EU Legislation Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 where applicable. In addition, Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/1888 suggests food types that could be monitored for the presence of acrylamide and these products were also included. 

Analysis 

The contractor, Fera Science, prepared and stored samples according to the Food Standards Agency “Guidelines for undertaking surveys.” Full details of all analytical methods and procedures carried out by Fera Science, including analytical quality assurance, can be found in the contractor’s report.

Results 

A total of 292 samples were received by Fera in July and August 2020 and July and August 2021. Samples for home-cooking were cooked according to manufacturers’ instructions. Samples with multiple cooking instructions were prepared using both sets of instructions, for example oven and microwave. These are represented as separate samples below. 

Acrylamide 

A total of 208 samples were analysed for acrylamide. A summary of the acrylamide concentrations (mean and range) by food category is shown in Table 1. Where applicable, these are compared against BMLs set out in Retained EU Legislation Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 for that category. For samples taken in Northern Ireland in 2021, BMLs set in European Law would apply; however, at the time of sampling, these BMLs were equivalent. 

Table 1: Concentrations of acrylamide in food (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling year

Samples

Acrylamide mean 

Acrylamide min 

Acrylamide max 

Acrylamide BML 

Acrylamide n>BML 

Soft bread 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Wheat based bread 

2020 

11 

83.4 

<30 

88.5 

50 

Wheat based bread

2021 

62.6 

<30 

94 

50 

Soft bread other than wheat-based bread 

2020 

<30 

<30 

100 

Soft bread...

2021 

<30 

<30 

100 

Breakfast cereals (excluding porridge) 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Maize, oat, spelt, barley and rice-based products 

2020 

68.8 

49.4 

106 

150 

Maize...

2021 

85.3 

55.4 

121 

150 

Other breakfast cereals  

2020 

205 

132 

278 

300 

Other breakfast cereals

2021 

240 

194 

286 

300 

Fine bakery wares (excluding cakes and pastry) 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Croissants, doughnuts, pancakes, churros & similar products 

2020 

18 

58.9 

<30 

72.8 

Croissants...

2021 

11 

92 

<30 

196 

Biscuits and wafers 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Crackers 

2020 

54.05 

42.1 

66 

400 

Crackers

2021 

117 

117 

400 

Biscuits 

 

2020 

153 

5.2 

236 

350 

Biscuits

2021 

248 

<30 

326 

350 

Coffee (as sold) 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Roast coffee 

2020 

220 

163 

356 

400 

-

2021 

240 

127 

305 

400 

Instant coffee 

2020 

767 

646 

884 

850 

-

2021 

565 

443 

687 

850 

Coffee (as consumed) 

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Roast coffee 

2020 

199.8 

158 

299 

-

2021 

9.8 

4.8 

13.9 

Instant coffee 

2020 

728.5 

535 

894 

-

2021 

4.7 

5.3 

Coffee substitutes 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Coffee substitutes not based on cereals and chicory (as sold) 

2020 

<30 

56 

Coffee substitutes not based on cereals and chicory (as consumed) 

 

2020 

59 

<30 

93 

Baby foods & processed cereal-based food intended for infants and young children. 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Savoury ready meals 

2021 

10 

<30 

35.5 

40 

Baby foods & savoury ready meals intended for infants and young children 

2021 

<30 

<30 

40 

Biscuits and rusks for infants and young children 

2021 

256 

<30 

276 

150 

Other products based on cereals and potatoes 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cereal Snacks (for example, Rice Crackers, Maize Crackers etc) 

2020 

<30 

70 

400 

Cereal Snacks (for example, Rice Crackers, Maize Crackers etc) 

 

2021 

93.5 

400 

Cereal Snacks (for example, Rice Cakes) 

2020 

204 

89.8 

414 

350 

Cereal Snacks (for example, Rice Cakes) 

 

2021 

196 

81.5 

308 

350 

Potato Products for example, rosti, croquettes 

2020 

15 

163.5 

<30 

409 

750 

-

2021 

59.2 

<30 

88.9 

750 

Potato based ready meals (for example, potato and cheese, casserole, potato, and meat) 

2020 

121.4 

<30 

218 

750 

-

2021 

<30 

106 

750 

Others 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Jacket potatoes 

2020 

84.1 

84.1 

84.1 

 

Jacket potatoes

2021 

662.5 

228 

1097 

 

Roasted Nuts 

2020 

<30 

91.8 

Roasted Nuts

2021 

61.2 

<30 

77.7 

Roasted Oilseeds 

2020 

<30 

<30 

Roasted Oilseeds

2021 

<30 

70 

Dried Fruits 

2020 

251 

<30 

454 

Dried Fruits

2021 

261.8 

<30 

451 

Roasted Cocoa Beans and Derived Products 

2020 

314 

<30 

364 

Roasted Cocoa Beans and Derived Products

2021 

171 

68.8 

274 

Olives in Brine 

2020 

<30 

281 

Olives in Brine

2021 

<30 

490 

Confectionery for example, fudge, caramel, nougat 

2020 

<30 

<30 

Confectionery 

2021 

<30 

<30 

Vegetable Crisps 

2020 

11 

1154 

<30 

2634 

Vegetable Crisps

2021 

13 

941 

<30 

2464 

Vegetable Fries/Chips 

2020 

205 

<30 

433 

Vegetable Fries/Chips 

2021 

45.05 

<30 

58.6 

Processed cereal based snacks intended for infants and young children (0-3 yrs) excluding biscuits and rusks 

2020 

14 

106 

<30 

182 

40* 

Processed cereal based snacks

2021 

14 

87 

<30 

140 

40* 

* BML does not apply to all products within this category

Furans 

A total of 112 samples were analysed for furans. A summary of the concentrations (mean and range) of furans and methylfurans by food category is shown in the following tables. 

Table 2: Concentrations of furan in food (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling date

Samples

Furan Mean 

Furan min 

Furan max 

Potato snacks 

2020 

32.8 

11 

77 

Potato snacks 

2021 

28.44 

9.1 

55 

Breakfast cereals excluding porridge  

2020 

37 

21 

55 

Breakfast cereals excluding porridge  

2021 

19.7 

16.5 

25.2 

Fine bakery wares (excluding cakes and pastry) 

 

 

 

 

 

Other fine bakery products (crackers, biscuits etc) 

2020 

61.25 

<5 

158 

Other fine bakery products

2021 

53.8 

<5 

120.8 

Coffee 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

10 

2316.4 

74 

5076 

-

2021 

2701 

<1000 

3243 

As consumed 

2020 

10 

50.3 

<5 

75 

-

2021 

20.5 

<2.5 

29.7 

Coffee substitutes not based on chicory or cereals 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

1948 

<20 

1948 

As consumed 

2020 

<5 

Baby foods & processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Ready meals 

2020 

10 

19.67 

13 

42 

Ready meals 

2021 

10 

67.2 

14.4 

160.4 

Muesli, Rice, Porridge 

2020 

12 

19.75 

<5 

30 

Biscuits and Rusks 

2020 

20 

<5 

33 

Baby foods for example rice, porridge and rusks 

2021 

10 

93.1 

<2.5 

93.1 

Vegetable crisps 

2020 

11 

14.72 

44 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

14.31 

29.9 

Soups and fruit juices 

2020 

18.5 

<5 

28 

Soups and fruit juices

2021 

20.2 

<2.5 

20.9 

Table 3: Concentrations of 2-methylfuran in food (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling date

Samples

2-methylfuran Mean 

2-methylfuran min 

2-methylfuran max 

Potato snacks 

2020 

10 

<5 

12 

Potato snacks 

2021 

9.85 

<5 

14.7 

Breakfast cereals excluding porridge  

2020 

17 

15 

19 

Breakfast cereals excluding porridge  

2021 

11 

16.1 

Fine bakery wares (excluding cakes and pastry) 

-

-

-

-

-

Other fine bakery products (crackers, biscuits etc) 

2020 

52.5 

<5 

116 

Other fine bakery products

2021 

38 

<5 

82.3 

Coffee 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

10 

8389.7 

231 

20920 

-

2021 

8477 

1522 

11866 

As consumed 

2020 

10 

108.78 

<5 

255 

-

2021 

49.9 

3.7 

96.3 

Coffee substitutes not based on chicory or cereals 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

1985 

<20 

1985 

As consumed 

2020 

<5 

Baby foods ans processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Ready meals 

2020 

10 

<5 

Ready meals

2021 

10 

11.46 

5.9 

18.5 

Muesli, Rice, Porridge 

2020 

12 

<5 

11 

Biscuits and Rusks 

2020 

6.5 

<5 

Baby foods for example rice, porridge and rusks 

2021 

10 

18.1 

<2.5 

18.1 

Vegetable crisps 

2020 

11 

22 

<5 

65 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

17.67 

34.4 

Soups and fruit juices 

2020 

<5 

Soups and fruit juices

2021 

6.5 

<2.5 

6.7 

Table 4: Concentrations of 3-methylfuran in food (µg/kg)

Description

Sampling date

Samples

3-methylfuran Mean 

3-methylfuran min 

3-methylfuran max 

Potato snacks 

2020 

<5 

Potato snacks 

2021 

9.2 

<5 

9.2 

Breakfast cereals excluding porridge  

2020 

<5 

Fine bakery wares (excluding cakes and pastry) 

-

-

-

-

-

Other fine bakery products (crackers, biscuits etc) 

2020 

28.5 

<5 

36 

Other fine bakery products

2021 

10.25 

<5 

12.6 

Coffee 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

10 

459.78 

<20 

825 

As consumed 

2020 

10 

7.4 

<5 

10 

-

2021 

4.1 

<2.5 

4.6 

Coffee substitutes not based on chicory or cereals 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

43 

<20 

43 

Baby foods and processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Ready meals 

2020 

10 

6.5 

<5 

Ready meals 

2021 

10 

10.77 

<5 

17.1 

Vegetable crisps 

2020 

11 

6.8 

<5 

10 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

7.16 

<5 

8.7 

Soups and fruit juices 

2021 

5.3 

<2.5 

5.3 

Table 5: Concentrations of 2-ethylfuran in food (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling date

Samples

2-ethylfuran Mean 

2-ethylfuran min 

2-ethylfuran max 

Potato snacks 

2020 

55.4 

20 

147 

Potato snacks 

2021 

31.64 

8.3 

94 

Breakfast cereals excluding porridge  

2020 

14 

<5 

14 

Fine bakery wares (excluding cakes and pastry) 

-

-

-

-

-

Other fine bakery products (crackers, biscuits etc) 

2020 

21.5 

<5 

36 

Other fine bakery products

2021 

24.55 

<5 

26.4 

Coffee 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

10 

206 

<20 

307 

Coffee substitutes not based on chicory or cereals 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

26 

<20 

26 

Baby foods and processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Ready meals 

2020 

10 

18.41 

6.6 

56.3 

Ready meals 

2021 

10 

11.46 

5.9 

18.5 

Muesli, Rice, Porridge 

2020 

12 

18 

<5 

32 

Biscuits and Rusks 

2020 

<5 

Baby foods for example rice, porridge and rusks 

2021 

10 

11.4 

<2.5 

11.4 

Vegetable crisps 

2020 

11 

16.2 

29 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

17.5 

5.9 

91.3 

Soups and fruit juices 

2020 

26 

<5 

26 

Soups and fruit juices 

2021 

<2.5 

Table 6: Concentrations of 2,5-dimethylfuran in food  (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling date

Samples

2,5-dimethylfuran Mean 

2,5-dimethylfuran min 

2,5-dimethylfuran max 

Fine bakery wares (excluding cakes and pastry) 

-

-

-

-

-

Other fine bakery products (crackers, biscuits etc) 

2020 

<5 

Coffee 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

10 

836.3 

22 

1827 

-

2021 

1726.5 

<1000 

1776 

As consumed 

2020 

10 

8.83 

<5 

11 

-

2021 

7.27 

<2.5 

10.5 

Coffee substitutes not based on chicory or cereals 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

193 

<20 

193 

Baby foods and processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Muesli, Rice, Porridge 

2020 

12 

<5 

11 

Biscuits and Rusks 

2020 

6.5 

<5 

Vegetable crisps 

2020 

11 

<5 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

7.2 

<5 

7.3 

Table 7: Concentrations of 2,3-dimethylfuran in food (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling date

Samples

2,3-dimethylfuran Mean 

2,3-dimethylfuran min 

2,3-dimethylfuran max 

Baby foods and processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Ready meals 

2021 

10 

7.2 

<5 

7.2 

Table 8: Concentrations of 2-propylfuran in food (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling date

Samples

2-propylfuran Mean 

2-propylfuran min 

2-propylfuran max 

Baby foods and processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Muesli, Rice, Porridge 

2020 

12 

<5 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

5.74 

<5 

6.7 

Table 9: Concentrations of 2-butylfuran in food (µg/kg) 

Description

Sampling date

Samples

2-butylfuran Mean 

2-butylfuran min 

2-butylfuran max 

Coffee 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

10 

<20 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

6.3 

<5 

8.6 

Table 10: Concentrations of 2-pentylfuran in food (µg/kg)

Description

Sampling date

Samples

2-pentylfuran Mean 

2-pentylfuran min 

2-pentylfuran max 

Potato snacks 

2021 

52.8 

25 

88.8 

Breakfast cereals excluding porridge 

2021 

17.57 

13.4 

19.8 

Fine bakery wares (excluding cakes and pastry) 

-

-

-

-

-

Other fine bakery products (crackers, biscuits etc) 

2021 

74.86 

15.9 

171.2 

Coffee 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

10 

10 

Coffee substitutes not based on chicory or cereals 

-

-

-

-

-

As sold 

2020 

56 

<20 

56 

Baby foods and processed cereal based foods intended for infants and young children 

-

-

-

-

-

Ready meals 

2021 

10 

31.71 

11.1 

107.2 

Baby foods for example rice, porridge and rusks 

2021 

10 

10.42 

<2.5 

15.6 

Vegetable crisps 

2021 

13 

318.38 

49.1 

696.2 

Soups and fruit juices 

2021 

7.85 

<2.5 

9.4 

All brand owners have received their results with the opportunity to comment where the BML was exceeded.  Individual analytical results for each product and category including brand names, batch numbers and best before dates, where available, can be found in the contractor’s report. 

Conclusion 

This survey gives a ‘snapshot’ of the range of levels of acrylamide and furans in different products on sale in the UK during the sampling period.  Levels of these process contaminants can vary depending on raw materials used by the manufacturer and processing conditions. It is not possible to draw definitive conclusions for individual brands sampled from this data.  

Most of the samples analysed for acrylamide were chosen to collect exploratory data and so do not have BMLs. In both years, the highest levels of acrylamide were observed in vegetable crisps, dry coffee, a sample of dried apricots, and one of black olives. The levels of acrylamide in coffee were drastically reduced when measured ‘as consumed’, after the coffee had been prepared as a beverage. The results were similar in Years 1 and 2.  

Furans evaporate easily and levels in some packaged foods can be reduced by heating and stirring in an open saucepan. Packets that are repeatedly opened and closed during use will a reduce levels of furans during the shelf life of the product. Furans will also evaporate from hot drinks in an open container. The COT recommends that efforts to reduce furans should continue and monitoring should be continued to deepen our knowledge. 

There are no action levels for furans and the data from this study is for information gathering only. Most samples contained low levels of furans. The highest levels were observed in coffee, however as with acrylamide when the coffee was prepared as a beverage the resulting levels of furans were much reduced, typically around 1-2% of the levels in the dry coffee. For foods such as baby ready meals and ready to eat soups, low levels of furans were found. 

The results from this survey do not increase our concern about the risk to human health. Food businesses are required to use acrylamide mitigation measures in their food safety management systems. Businesses are also expected to undertake representative sampling and analysis where appropriate to monitor the levels of acrylamide in their products. This exploratory data provides information that may be used to design future sampling studies and to support decision making in the possible setting of future regulatory levels. More information on acrylamide legislation is available on the FSA website. 

Summary of Units 

microgram (µg): one thousandth of a milligram (mg) 

gram (g): one thousandth of a kilogram (kg) 

kilogram (kg): one thousand grams 

µg/kg: microgram per kilogram