Acrylamide

Acrylamide

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
The Simplot company’s marketing a genetically engineered potato that they’re calling the “Innate”. Like the controversial GMO apple named the Arctic, this potato resists bruising. But it’s also engineered to reduce the possibly harmful chemical acrylamide, that appears when potatoes are deep-fried or made into potato chips. There is evidence that acrylamide can produce cancer in laboratory animals. John Keeling with National Potato Council: “it has potential to lower acrylamide. The FDA's position currently is that there is no need for anyone to change their dietary characteristics relative to acrylamide. They continue to study acrylamide as a possible health issue. If they get to the point where they think that certain levels of acrylamide need to be reduced then the ability to do that within potatoes becomes important. The FDA is not there yet. We also have efforts going on in conventional breeding that we think are going to be very effective in reducing acrylamide levels as well. So there are multiple prongs of technology going after this thing which is not a current problem but has potential to be. If FDA were to conclude that, based on the research, and they have been very careful to move slowly, thoughtfully, not to confuse or frighten consumers because we know that large doses of acrylamide can cause problems in laboratory animals. This is a potential remedy for that if we get to the point where FDA deems it necessary to try to do that.”
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