News & Media

So What About That Acrylamide In Your French Fries?

Released

So What About That Acrylamide In Your French Fries?

Acrylamide falls into a category of chemicals that can make a physician-scientist shudder. Over twenty years ago, laboratory researchers (as I was, then), including some less careful, put on gloves before pouring acrylamide gels to analyze proteins. We all knew it was a neurotoxin. We heard stories, like those of some researchers in California who were apparently poisoned by acrylamide spiked in their coffee.