Division Processing

In the manufacture of breakfast cereals FBOs shall apply the following mitigation measures and shall ensure that the measures taken are compatible with the product characteristics and food safety requirements:

1. 1..

   FBOs shall identify, by means of risk assessment, the critical heat-treatment step(s) in the manufacturing process that generate(s) acrylamide.

2. 2..

   As higher heating temperatures and longer heating times generate higher acrylamide levels, FBOs shall identify an effective combination of temperature and heating times to minimise acrylamide formation without compromising the taste, texture, colour, safety and shelf-life of the product.

3. 3..

   To avoid the generation of acrylamide spikes, FBOs shall control heating temperatures, times and feed-rates in order to achieve the following minimum moisture content in the final product after the final heat treatment in consideration of achieving the targeted product quality, the required shelf life and food safety standards:

   • toasted products: 1 g/100 g for extruded products, 1 g/100 g for batch cooked products, 2 g/100 g for steam rolled products;

   • direct expanded products: 0,8 g/100 g for extruded products;

   • baked products: 2 g/100 g for continuously cooked products;

   • filled products: 2 g/100 g for extruded products;

   • other drying: 1 g/100 g for batch cooked products, 0,8 g/100 g for gun puffed products.

   FBOs shall measure the moisture content and express acrylamide concentration in a dry mass to eliminate the confounding effect of moisture changes.

4. 4..

   Reworking product back through the process has the potential to generate higher acrylamide levels through repeated exposure to the heat-treatments steps. FBOs therefore shall assess the impact of rework on acrylamide levels and reduce or eliminate rework.

5. 5..

   FBOs shall have procedures in place, such as temperature controls and monitoring, to prevent the incidence of burnt products.