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AGROLAB LUFA participated in the Proficiency Test (PT) EURL-PC PT-2019-03 Furan, 2-methylfuran and 3-methylfuran and acrylamide in coffee organised by the EU Reference Laboratory for Processing Contaminants.
Participation in the tests are mandatory only for the National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) according to Article 101 of the EU Regulation. As we work for an European NRLs as subcontractor lab, we were obliged to participate in this PT.
Results for acrylamide in coffee were reported by 26 laboratories. One lab out of the 25 participants failed. AGROLAB LUFA passed with an excellent z-score of 0,2.
In the test for furan in coffee in total 18 labs took part. Two labs failed and three labs delivered questionable results. AGROLAB LUFA again achieved an excellent z-score of -0,1.
In June 2015, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a scientific opinion which found that acrylamide in food may potentially pose a health risk, namely an increased risk of cancer. The European Commission introduced a regulation to reduce the presence of acrylamide in food, including coffee products in November 2017. Since then regular controls take place and manufacturers took measures to reduce the acrylamide content in their products.
Furan and its metabolites are formed during the roasting process of coffee beans. Furans are also suspected to play a role in e.g. liver cancer. During brewing the levels are decreasing, however furan in coffee is part of the monitoring by EFSA.
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Author: Frank Mörsberger, Serge Campagne
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