In chemistry, hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF (C 5 H 4 O 2 ) - is a VOLATILE and HARMFUL molecule, produced by the alteration of sugars / carbohydrates / carbohydrates during cooking due to degradation of pentoses and / or Maillard reaction .
Hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF in foods
Hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF is normally available in sugary foods subjected to heat treatment; I am an example:
- Pasteurized honey, in which the hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF is released following the thermal degradation of glucose and fructose, even split from sucrose
- Pasteurized or sterilized milk, in which hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF is released following the thermal degradation of glucose and galactose split from lactose
- Concentrated and rectified grape must (limit <25mg / kg of TOT sugars), in which the hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF is released both after the bacterial fermentation and after the thermal degradation of the added sugars (during the pasteurization of the must)
- Preserved meats, in which the hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF is released by Maillard degradation of glucose released by muscle glycogen
- Canned vegetables, in which hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF is released following the thermal degradation of fructose.
- Roasted coffee and non-oily dried fruit (prunes, dried apricots, etc.). Coffee is the food that has the greatest relevance in terms of daily HMF levels.
The formation of hydroxymethylfurfural is also favored in acidic conditions.
Concentration limits and toxicity of hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF
According to food legislation, the concentrations of hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF can be evaluated by the Winkler method or by dissolved oxygen (OD); the lethal dose (LD50) of hydroxymethylfurfural - HMF for the rat was estimated at 50-100mg / kg-1 of body weight, or 0.05-0.1g / hg of body weight.
From studies conducted on animals NO concrete risks of carcinogenic and genotoxic effects in humans have emerged. The toxic residual potential was assessed as rather low and intake levels in the range of 80-100 mg of hydroxymethylfurfural per kg per day produced no adverse effects. Safety margins are generally considered sufficient. However, a particularly high consumption of caramel (also through cola-type drinks or sweets) and / or coffee could - in the long term - represent a real danger to human health.
Bibliography
- Abraham K, Gürtler R, Berg K, Heinemeyer G, Lampen A, Appel KE. - Toxicology and risk assessment of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in food. Mol Nutrition Food Res. 2011 May; 55 (5): 667-78. doi: 10.1002 / mnfr.201000564. Epub 2011 Apr 4 ..
