Acrylamide- and hydroxymethylfurfural-forming capacity of alternative flours in heated dough systems

This article belongs to the Special Issue The 5th International Electronic Conference on Foods—"The Future of Technology, Sustainability, and Nutrition in the Food Domain" (Foods2024)).

The use of alternative flours is becoming more common in the food industry to enhance the nutritional and sensory properties of baked goods. However, these changes may also affect the formation of acrylamide, a potentially carcinogenic and genotoxic compound generated in foods heated above 120 °C. This study evaluated the acrylamide-forming potential of 16 flours from cereals, pseudocereals, legumes, fruits, and roots. Samples were analyzed for acrylamide precursors—reducing sugars and free asparagine—and tested in model dough systems with and without added glucose. All samples were baked at 150 °C for 30 min. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was also determined as a marker of thermal damage. In water-hydrated systems, acrylamide was only detected in wheat, rye, and coconut flours (23–61 µg/kg). When glucose was added, acrylamide levels increased in all systems except cassava. Lentil flour produced the highest levels (154 µg/kg), while corn flour showed the lowest (20 µg/kg). HMF levels followed a similar trend, with lentil flour again showing the highest content (232.3 mg/kg). These results highlight the importance of evaluating acrylamide formation when using non-wheat flours, especially in formulations containing sugars. Additional mitigation strategies may be needed to ensure the safety of these innovative food products.

This research was funded by project ACRYREVAL (PID2022-137697NB-I00), funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”.

Peer reviewed