Acrylamide, hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural in ready-to-eat foods consumed by child population: Presence, risk assessment and future perspectives

• Published in: Food chemistry 2024-11, Vol.457, p.140086, Article 140086
• Main Authors: Borba, Verônica Simões de, Barbosa, Sergiane Caldas, Kupski, Larine, Primel, Ednei Gilberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrylamide - analysis; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Fast Foods - analysis; Food Contamination - analysis; Furaldehyde - analogs & derivatives; Furaldehyde - analysis; Humans; In vitro digestion; Occurrence; Processed foods; Processing contaminants; Risk Assessment
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140086

Food intake contributes to adequate growth and neurodevelopment of children. Ready-to-eat foods, frequently consumed by this population, are sources of acrylamide (AA), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural (FF). In this sense, a review of the AA, HMF, and FF presence in ready-to-eat foods was evaluated through a systematic search to infer the risk of exposure in the child population. About 75.8%, 24.2%, and 21% of the studies found AA, HMF, and FF in ready-to-eat foods, respectively. AA is predominant in processed and ultra-processed foods, while HMF and FF are commonly found in fruit-based foods. Only 17.7% of the studies assessed the children's risk of exposure, based on the contaminant concentration in ready-to-eat food and not after gastrointestinal digestion, a more realistic measure. Therefore, with the obtained information and found gaps, it is expected that new strategies will be proposed to assess the vulnerability of the child population to these processing contaminants. [Display omitted] •75% of the studies found acrylamide in foods consumed by the child population;•Acrylamide is predominant in processed and ultra-processed foods;•Hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural are commonly found in fruit-based foods;•Few studies assessed the risk of exposure to processing contaminants by the children;•The risk of exposure of children after food ingestion has not been verified in the studies;