Snacks like chips are the favorites of many people, but these snacks are not only fattening, they also carry a risk of causing cancer.
HK Consumer Council released its survey results, saying that among the 77 pre-packaged and non-pre-packaged samples of crispy snacks tested earlier, 70 samples contained acrylamide, a carcinogenic substance, with the highest average level in pre-packaged potato chips and fries. Nine of them contained levels of acrylamide, exceeding the EU benchmark level.
The test covered 67 pre-packaged crispy snack samples, including 29 types of potato chips and fries, 13 types of shrimp chips and fries, 12 types of corn chips and fries, 7 types of vegetable chips, 3 types of quinoa chips and 3 types of sweet potato and sweet potato-based chips.
Acrylamide was detected in all 29 samples of pre-packaged potato chips and fries, ranging from 12 to 2,614 micrograms per kilogram. The average content was 644 micrograms per kilogram.
The Council also tested 10 types of non-prepackaged ready-to-eat French fries, purchased from restaurants, fast food shops, and snack bars.
The acrylamide levels in the samples ranged from 38 to 964 micrograms per kilogram, and the average level was 392 micrograms per kilogram. The highest acrylamide level was found in the large packaged French fries from the Five Guys chain store.
HK Consumer Council pointed out that the acrylamide and total fat content in three types of samples, namely pre-packaged shrimp chips and sticks, corn chips and sticks, and quinoa flakes, are relatively low, but the average sodium content is high, and excessive consumption may increase the risk of hypertension.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies acrylamide as "probably carcinogenic to humans" as it has a wide range of industrial uses. It is recommended that a benchmark level of acrylamide be set in HK, following the European Union practice.
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