§ 39. Mr. Roger WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on acrylamide. [82655]
§ Ms BlearsAcrylamide has been found to occur in a wide range of home-cooked and processed foods including chips and crisps. It has not been found in uncooked or boiled foods, and appears to be formed during cooking by methods such as frying and baking.
Acrylamide has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. However, this is not a new risk, as it is likely that we have been exposed to acrylamide in food for generations.
The Food Standards Agency is commissioning research and surveillance to ascertain the reason for, and extent of, acrylamide formation, but in the meantime has advised that on the basis of current evidence people should eat a balanced diet including a variety of fruit and vegetables, and that as part of a balanced diet people should moderate their consumption of fried and fatty foods.