• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.685-698
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• 2010

Acrolein is a highly toxic, reactive mutagenic aldehyde. Humans are exposed to acrolein vapors from overheated cooking oil, cigarette smoke, and combustion of organic products. In this study, we investigated elementary and middle school students' consumption of foods cooked at high heat, such as fried, direct fire, and indirect fire cooked foods. The subjects of this survey study were 265 fifth grade students and 396 middle school students nationwide. According to the results of the frequency test, broiled fish was the most frequently consumed, followed by fried fish, indirect cooked samgyebsal, and other fried foods, which were eaten more than three times per month. The total intake of foods cooked at high heat per child over 1 year was in the following order: Fried chicken(7.50 kg) > Samgeybsal(6.57 kg) > Broiled pork ribs(4.18 kg) > Broiled fish(4.12 kg) > Bulgogi(3.31 kg) > Fried dish(3.18 kg) > Pork cuttlet(3.17 kg) > Jeyukbockeum(3.13 kg) > Charcoal-broiled beef ribs(2.74 kg) > Roasted whole chicken(2.05 kg) > Dackochi(1.87 kg) > Tangsuyuk(1.87 kg) > Fried fish(1.83 kg) > Hamburger patties(1.21 kg) > Fried potato(1.01 kg) > Barbecue(0.95 kg) > Doughnut(0.80 kg) > Corn dog(0.66 kg) > Croquette(0.51 kg). The favorite cooking method was indirect fire cooking for beef, pork, and fish, whereas frying was preferred for chicken. The results of this study provide important data for assessment of acrolein exposure via foods cooked at high heat temperature. The results also indicate that children might be exposed to acrolein through consumption of foods cooked at high heat temperature, suggesting the need to promote education of proper food consumption behavior.