1. Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) Geel, Belgium http://www.irmm.jrc.be http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int 1 Update on Activities of the DG-JRC on Acrylamide Analysis Thomas Wenzl and Elke Anklam

2. 2 Structure  Overview on activities  Proficiency tests – global outcome  Content of acrylamide level monitoring database  Next steps

3. 3 Overview on activities Apr 03 Workshop on analytical methods Launch of database – call for monitoring data Jul 031 st PT: crispbread and butter cookies samples + extracts Oct 031 st meeting of task force on methods for AA determination Feb 042 nd PT: 3 crispbread samples + extracts + AA standards Apr 04Guest editor for special section of JAOAC: published in Jan. 05 Jun 04 2 nd meeting of task force on methods for AA determination Web publication of AA data base Sep 043 rd PT: coffee and cocoa powder Oct 04Start with preparation of validation study by collaborative trial Dec 04Update of database Jan 05Kick-off meeting of the certification campaign of ERMs

4. 4 Proficiency tests - global outcome  Reorganisation and consolidation of AA analysis “market” (lower number of labs with higher sample throughput)  Percentage of failures ~ constant  Problems with difficult matrices e.g. cocoa (consequence of low experience?)

5. 5 Proficiency tests - global outcome  Some problems could be identified (e.g. instrument calibration)  Variability of applied methods limits deeper investigations  Unlikely that further PTs will give new knowledge

6. 6 Structure Overview on activities Proficiency tests – global outcome  Content of acrylamide level monitoring database  Next steps

7. 7 AA level monitoring database  Setup of data submission spreadsheet jointly with CIAA  Call for data launched in April 2003  Setup of data evaluation criteria together with CIAA (December 2003)  First evaluation of data in spring 2004  Web publication on IRMM homepage in June 2004  Update: December 2004

8. 8 AA level monitoring database Number of data submitted to database: ~5650  Mainly from 2003 and first few month of 2004  About 2/3 of data came from Germany, Rest from: Official bodies of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands, UK The food and beverage industry (represented by CIAA) Overview on raw data

9. 9 AA level monitoring database  Number of data that passed assessment: 3854  Number of data from laboratories with satisfactory performance in PTs: 3143  Good representation of important food matrices (potato crisps, potato chips, crispbread, breakfast cereals, fine bakery ware (different biscuits), coffee) Results of data assessment http://www.irmm.jrc.be/ffu/acrylamide.html

10. 10 AA level monitoring database Potato chips Potato crisps Fine bakery ware GingerbreadCrispbread Number 758 598503445288 Min 5 5555 1. Quartil 90 3766016280 Median 180 602150310254 3. Quartil 327 981357689613 Max 5200 3770332478342838 Summary of data

11. 11 Time dependency of AA content Only data with information on expiry date are depicted

12. 12 Next steps Elucidation of reproducibility of methods  Preparation of study for method validation by collaborative trial started  2 Methods: GC/MS with derivatisation and LC/MS/MS  Collaboration with HEATOX project, NMKL and Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food (Detmold, Germany) Matrices Bakery ware (crispbread, butter biscuits) Potato matrix (potato crisp)

13. 13 Next steps  Certification of European Reference Materials (ERM) –2 Matrices: toasted bread and crispbread Kick-off meeting of certification campaign held Dispatch of samples: next week

14. 14 Résumé  3 Proficiency tests organised and evaluated  No new knowledge from further PTs expected  Database with ~3800 quality controlled data  Evaluation of reproducibility by collaborative trial in preparation  Certification of Reference Materials ongoing