It was found in 2002 that a by product of cooking starchy foods at high temperatures is acrylamide in foods. The California-based Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) has filed notices with the state’s attorney general that the levels of acrlamide in certain potato chips a far higher than allowed by law.

ELF tested 12 types of potato chips and, according to the ELF analysis, every potato chip brand tested contained more of the toxin acrlylamide than currently allowed by Proposition 65. The brands tested exceeded the warning thresholds by 39 to 910 times. The test was based upon the consumption of 1 once of chips, or from 11-to20 chips depending on the type of chip. We all know that is not many folks. Based upon this test, manufacturers who sell their products without such warnings are in violation of California law Proposition 65. (See Below)

The attorney general’s office has 60 days to decide to pursue the case; if the state declines, the ELF will file lawsuits against the companies.

And the Chip Makers Say?

Of course, the reaction from the chip makers was on the defensive. And of course the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) lack of action on the dangers of acrylamide and saftey enforcement does help.

This is particularly frustrating when choildren eat so many highly processed foods and there are ways to process potato chips and foods that do not result in the formation of thes canser causing chemicals.

Source: To Read the whole report which is not long go to the ELF web site.