Factors Affecting the Formation of Furan in Heated Foods

Objective

Furan appears to be created when food is heat-treated and/or packaged in jars or cans. Why furan is found in food is not yet fully understood. The project will assist in addressing the following questions:
<br>
Is furan produced upon heating food from raw materials?<br>
Is furan found in foods as consumed and if so, at what levels?<br>
What are the mechanisms of furan formation?

More information

Furan is a chemical compound, which has been classified as 'possibly carcinogenic in humans' by the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and has recently been detected in a range of foods. The presence of furan in food may pose a risk to humans and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently published a report on furan, which considers additional data is required for a more detailed risk assessment. The results of the project will inform the risk assessment by EFSA and consideration of risk management measures.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food

Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.

Institution

Central Science Laboratory

Start date

2004

End date

2006

Funding Source

Food Standards Agency

Project number

C03043