As a Thermal Process Contaminant Acrylamide: Formation Mechanisms and Strategies of Reducing Acrylamide Content in Meat Products

Abstract

Acrylamide is a carcinogenic and mutagenic compound which is formed by the oxidation of the acrolein compound or the as a result of reactions between reducing sugars and asparagine amino acids. Although acrylamide is mostly seen in carbohydrate-based foods, frying, steaming and baking processes lead to formation of acrylamide also in protein containing meat products with composite structure. Type and the cycle of frying oil, the precursors present in the system, the cooking method, temperature, time and storage can be listed as factors affecting acrylamide formation in meat products. The adverse effects of acrylamide on health create a need for application of acrylamide reduction strategies. These strategies encompass the reduction of the precursor substances, heat treatment time and temperature as much as possible, addition of various cations, enzymes, amino acids and antioxidants to the system and removal of the resulting acrylamide compound from the system. In this review, it was aimed to clarify the factors affecting the formation of acrylamide and strategies for reducing the amount of acrylamide in meat products.