WHY THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS NEED TO WAKE UP TO THE ACRYLAMIDE CRISIS

The policy brief critiques the European Commission's proposed approach to reducing acrylamide—a probable carcinogen—in food, arguing that voluntary industry measures have failed. It advocates for the transition from 'indicative values' to legally binding maximum levels and a shift from industry self-monitoring to rigorous oversight by national Food Safety Agencies.

• Acrylamide is a chemical that forms naturally in starchy foods during high-heat cooking processes such as frying, baking, and roasting. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classify it as a public health concern and a "probable carcinogen", noting that "no safe level of exposure has been determined".
• Since 2007, the EU has relied on a voluntary approach to reduce acrylamide, using 'indicative values' that are set at the higher end of observed concentrations. This approach is deemed a failure, as EFSA and the European Commission found in 2014 that there was "not been a consistent trend across food groups towards lower levels of acrylamide".
• Industry resistance to voluntary measures is attributed to a lack of awareness and financial concerns. Some food business operators reported they did not implement the 'acrylamide toolbox' because they "did not have to comply with any legal limits" or did "not want to cover the costs associated with its implementation".
• The author argues that the European Commission's November 2016 proposal is insufficient because it continues to rely on indicative values and industry self-monitoring. The brief recommends setting "ambitious maximum levels" and empowering national Food Safety Agencies to "take legal action against irresponsible food-makers".
• If the draft regulation is adopted without ambitious binding values, it may prevent EU Member States from implementing stricter national limits. Specifically, countries like Denmark, which have stricter indicative values, would be forced to be "more lenient".

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (n.d.). WHY THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS NEED TO WAKE UP TO THE ACRYLAMIDE CRISIS. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HEADING-BURNOUT-NO-LOGOS-UPDATE-190916-WEB.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. WHY THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS NEED TO WAKE UP TO THE ACRYLAMIDE CRISIS. n.d. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HEADING-BURNOUT-NO-LOGOS-UPDATE-190916-WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=WHY THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS NEED TO WAKE UP TO THE ACRYLAMIDE CRISIS |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HEADING-BURNOUT-NO-LOGOS-UPDATE-190916-WEB.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundationndwhy, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{WHY THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS NEED TO WAKE UP TO THE ACRYLAMIDE CRISIS}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HEADING-BURNOUT-NO-LOGOS-UPDATE-190916-WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }