04/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - EFSA confirms risks of acrylamide for health. In a scientific opinion published on Wednesday 4 June, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed that acrylamide - a chemical found in many foods cooked at high temperature (+120°C) - could increase the risk of developing cancer for consumers of all ages. Given their weight, children are the most exposed. EFSA states that evidence from animal studies shows that acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide are genotoxic and carcinogenic - they damage DNA and cause cancer. However, EFSA experts say that evidence from human studies that exposure to acrylamide causes cancer is currently limited and inconclusive. Besides cancer, the EFSA panel also considered possible harmful effects of acrylamide on the nervous system, pre- and post-natal development and male reproduction. These effects were not considered to be of concern. This scientific opinion takes account of the public consultation of July 2014. (Aminata Niang)