Comparison of potato varieties between seasons and their potential for acrylamide formation

BACKGROUND: Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen produced during food preparation, including frying of potato products. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of seasonal variation on tuber composition and its acrylamide generation potential. RESULTS: The chemical composition of potato varieties used respectively for French fry (Bintje and Ramos) and crisp (Lady Rosetta and Saturna) production was studied throughout a storage period of 9 months during two growing seasons (2003 and 2004), in addition to their acrylamide generation potential during preparation of French fries. A significant impact of variable climatological conditions on the reducing sugar, dry matter, total free amino acid and free asparagine contents of tubers was observed. Exceptionally warm summers gave rise to a lower reducing sugar content (expressed on a dry matter basis) and thus a lower susceptibility to acrylamide generation during frying. CONCLUSION: It cannot be excluded that potato growers and the potato-processing industry are confronted with some harvests that are more prone to acrylamide generation than others owing to climatological variability, thus confirming the importance of a multifactorial approach to mitigate acrylamide generation in potato products.</p

Validation of a method for the detection and confirmation of nitroimidazoles and the corresponding hydroxy metabolites in pig plasma by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

&lt;p&gt;Nitroimidazoles (Ronidazole, Dimetridazole, Metronidazole, Ipronidazole) and their hydroxy metabolites are banned substances with antibiotic and anticoccidial activity. They are suspected to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. Since nitroimidazoles showed an inhomogeneous distribution and a rapid degradation in incurred muscle samples, plasma is the preferred target matrix for residue analysis. The analytical method of Polzer et al. [J. Polzer, C. Stachel, P. Gowik, Anal. Chim. Acta 521 (2004) 189] was adapted for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection and was validated in house according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The method is specific for all nitroimidazole except for Ipronidazole and its metabolite, due to interferences at their retention times in chromatograms of blank plasma and reagents samples. The absence of a matrix effect enables the use of a (linear) calibration curve in solution for quantitation. The apparent recovery (obtained after correction with a deuterated internal standard) is between 93% and 123%, except for the metabolite of Metronidazole (58-63%). The repeatability (CVr=2.49-13.39%) and intralaboratory reproducibility (CVRW=2.49-16.38%) satisfy the Horwitz equation. The obtained values for the detection capacity (CCbeta) range from 0.25 to 1 microg L(-1), while values obtained for the decision limit (CCalpha) are below CCbeta.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Calculation of the decision limit (CCalpha) and the detection capability (CCbeta) for banned substances: the imperfect marriage between the quantitative and the qualitative criteria.

&lt;p&gt;Initially in the Decision 2002/657/EC the criteria for the calculation of the decision limit (CCalpha) and the detection capability (CCbeta) have been estimated as purely quantitative (alpha-error is 1% and beta-error is 5%). In 2004, the European Commission has issued a document to provide guidance for the interpretation of the 2002/657/EC. In this document it is mentioned that also qualitative criteria should be fulfilled. Therefore, the calculated CCalpha and CCbeta must be verified by using fortified samples. The method should be able to detect/identify the target component in 50% of the cases at CCalpha and in 95% of the cases at CCbeta. Analytical methods for the analysis of nitroimidazoles, nitrofurans and corticosteroids with LC-MS/MS have been validated by fortifying blank samples below and above the MRPL. CCalpha and CCbeta were calculated using the ISO 11843 approach. In addition, the frequency of methodical compliance for the qualitative criteria was determined at each concentration level. It was observed that at the calculated CCalpha and CCbeta levels the qualitative criteria were not fulfilled. It was concluded that the detection capability of the analytical method should be calculated by using decreasing fortification levels at and below the MRPL. A protocol validating methods for banned substances by limiting the number of samples is presented and the qualitative criteria for the assessment of CCalpha and CCbeta were verified based on the same set of data without the need of performing additional validation experiments.&lt;/p&gt;</p

A modified sample preparation for acrylamide determination in cocoa and coffee products

A modified sample preparation for acrylamide determination in difficult matrices such as cocoa and coffee by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method is presented in this work. For the sample pretreatment, different solvents, purification steps, and solid-phase extraction cartridges were evaluated. The analyses were carried out on a µ-Bondapak C18 column using acrylamide-D3 as internal standard. For identification and confirmation of acrylamide, relative retention time and two diagnostic ions were monitored. Good performance of the method was achieved by introducing a protein precipitation step with Carrez I and II solutions and a liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate in combination with solid-phase extraction during the sample clean-up. A limit of detection of 10 µg/kg, a limit of quantitation of 20 µg/kg, mean recoveries ranging from 93 to 99%, coefficients of variation of 3.4% for repeatability, and from 1.7 to 10.8% for within-laboratory reproducibility were obtained during a laboratory validation procedure.</p

A Modified Sample Preparation for Acrylamide Determination in Cocoa and Coffee Products

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)A modified sample preparation for acrylamide determination in difficult matrices such as cocoa and coffee by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method is presented in this work. For the sample pretreatment, different solvents, purification steps, and solid-phase extraction cartridges were evaluated. The analyses were carried out on a mu-Bondapak C(18) column using acrylamide-D(3) as internal standard. For identification and confirmation of acrylamide, relative retention time and two diagnostic ions were monitored. Good performance of the method was achieved by introducing a protein precipitation step with Carrez I and II solutions and a liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate in combination with solid-phase extraction during the sample clean-up. A limit of detection of 10 mu g/kg, a limit of quantitation of 20 mu g/kg, mean recoveries ranging from 93 to 99%, coefficients of variation of 3.4% for repeatability, and from 1.7 to 10.8% for within-laboratory reproducibility were obtained during a laboratory validation procedure.114955Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CAPES [BEX 0770/04-3]CNPq [142119/2003-2

Calculation of the decision limit (CC alpha) and the detection capability (CC beta) for banned substances: The imperfect marriage between the quantitative and the qualitative criteria

&lt;p&gt;Initially in the Decision 2002/657/EC the criteria for the calculation of the decision limit (CCalpha) and the detection capability (CCbeta) have been estimated as purely quantitative (alpha-error is 1% and beta-error is 5%). In 2004, the European Commission has issued a document to provide guidance for the interpretation of the 2002/657/EC. In this document it is mentioned that also qualitative criteria should be fulfilled. Therefore, the calculated CCalpha and CCbeta must be verified by using fortified samples. The method should be able to detect/identify the target component in 50% of the cases at CCalpha and in 95% of the cases at CCbeta. Analytical methods for the analysis of nitroimidazoles, nitrofurans and corticosteroids with LC-MS/MS have been validated by fortifying blank samples below and above the MRPL. CCalpha and CCbeta were calculated using the ISO 11843 approach. In addition, the frequency of methodical compliance for the qualitative criteria was determined at each concentration level. It was observed that at the calculated CCalpha and CCbeta levels the qualitative criteria were not fulfilled. It was concluded that the detection capability of the analytical method should be calculated by using decreasing fortification levels at and below the MRPL. A protocol validating methods for banned substances by limiting the number of samples is presented and the qualitative criteria for the assessment of CCalpha and CCbeta were verified based on the same set of data without the need of performing additional validation experiments.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Contribution of selected foods to acrylamide intake by a population of Brazilian adolescents

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Acrylamide dietary intakes from selected foods are estimated in this work for Brazilian adolescents from Sao Paulo State. The exposure assessment was carried out by combining levels of acrylamide in foods determined analytically by an accredited LC-MS/MS method, with individual food consumption data, using a deterministic approach. Data on food consumption were generated using 24 h recall applied to 578 individuals aged from 11 to 17 years, between July and August 2001. The mean and maximum acrylamide intakes were estimated to be 0.12 and 1.92 mu g/kg bw/day, respectively. At 50th, 95th and 97.5th percentiles, the average intakes were 0.04, 0.55 and 0.77 mu g/kg bw/day, respectively. Boys presented exposure levels lower than girls, while the acrylamide intake by younger adolescents (11-14 years) was higher compared to the older group (15-17 years). The foods that contributed most to acrylamide exposure were French fries, French bread, water and salt biscuit and coffee. (C) 2008 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.421207211Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CAPES [BEX 0770/04-3]CNPq [142119/2003-2

Determination of acrylamide levels in selected foods in Brazil

Selected carbohydrate-rich foods available on the Brazilian market (111 samples representing 19 product categories) were analysed for acrylamide content using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. A limit of detection of 10 µg kg</p

Contribution of selected foods to acrylamide intake by a population of Brazilian adolescents

Acrylamide dietary intakes from selected foods are estimated in this work for Brazilian adolescents from S+úo Paulo State. The exposure assessment was carried out by combining levels of acrylamide in foods determined analytically by an accredited LC</p