Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Metals, Acrylamide and Ochratoxin A in Instant Coffee from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru

Abstract

This study analysed the probabilistic risk to consumers associated with the presence of iAs, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, acrylamide (AA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in instant coffee from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The results found iAs to be the metal with the highest concentrations (3.50 × 10−2 to 6.00 × 10−2 mg/kg), closely followed by Pb (1.70 × 10−2 to 2.70 × 10−2 mg/kg) and Cr (5.00 × 10−3 to 1.00 × 10−2 mg/kg), although these differences were not significant between countries. Cd and Hg were not detected. Focusing on AA, the concentrations ranged from 1.77 × 10−1 mg/kg (Peru) to 4.77 × 10−1 mg/kg (Brazil), while OTA ranged from 1.32 × 10−3 (Peru) to 1.77 × 10−3 mg/kg (Brazil) with significant differences between countries in both cases. As regards risk, the hazard quotient and hazard index were less than 1, meaning that the consumption of instant coffee represents a low level of concern for non-genotoxic effects. The results of the combination of margin of exposure and probability of exceedance indicated that the non-genotoxic effects of Pb, AA and OTA pose no threat. However, the probability values of suffering cancer from iAs and AA (between 1 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−4) indicated a moderate risk and that management measures should be taken.