European Commission won’t ban Belgian frites

The European Commission is not going to ban Belgian frites, as a spokesman told journalists in response to criticism of an initiative aimed at regulating the way they are made. The commission is proposing that the potatoes should be blanched first to prevent the formation of acrylamide, an allegedly carcinogenic compound that can form in the frying process. It is consulting producers on a code of practice to reduce acrylamide intake. On the other hand, Belgium says European commission’s proposal to change cooking process for safety reasons will spoil chips’ taste. A similar risk to that posed by the frite is apparently also found in roast potatoes, biscuits, porridge, coffee and bread. The European Food Safety Authority has said children are most at risk. More