California crunches down on potato chip companies over acrylamide

William Atkins
Monday, 04 August 2008 22:57

Science - Health

The state states that Frito-Lay is the largest company making potato chips in California. Kettle Foods makes Kettle Chips and Lance Inc. makes Cape Cod Chips.

California state attorney general Jerry Brown stated that the settlement was "a victory for public health and safety in California.” [San Francisco Chronicle: “Lawsuit over potato chip ingredient settled”]

The settlement requires the potato chip companies to reduce acrylamide to 275 parts per billion in three years.

The San Francisco Chronicle articles states, “That amounts to a 20 percent reduction for Frito-Lay and an 87 percent reduction for Kettle Chips...” and “...little or no reduction will be needed for most Cape Cod chips, but one product, Cape Cod Robust Russets, will require a warning label.” Since then, Cape Cod Robust Russets have been taken off the market.

In addition, according to the Associated Press article “Settlement will reduce carcinogens in potato chips,” penalties and costs totaling just over US$2.5 million will be paid by the companies involved in the settlement.
 
According to AP, Frito-Lay, will pay $1.5 million, Kettle Foods will pay $350,000, Heinz pays $600,000, and Lance pays $95,000.

In the same 2005 lawsuit, California also sued fast-food companies McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and KFC, along with consumer product company Procter & Gamble Co. over acrylamide levels. Those lawsuits were settled after the companies agreed to either properly label their products or lower levels of the chemical.

Specifically, earlier in 2008, Proctor & Gamble agreed to reduce acrylamide by 50% in Pringles potato chips.

In 2007, Burger King, KFC, Wendy’s, and McDonald’s agreed to post warnings about acrylamide in their potato chips and French fries.