Research Article

Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels

Volume: 10 Number: 2 June 29, 2026

Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels

Abstract

Granola products are commonly perceived as healthy cereal options; however, they should be evaluated not only for their nutritional quality but also for the potential formation of process contaminants such as acrylamide. This study aimed to assess 28 commercial granola products using the revised Nutri-Score algorithm and to determine their acrylamide content, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their nutritional profiles and contaminant levels. According to the revised Nutri-Score, 61% of the products were classified in the two lowest categories (D and E), indicating generally lower nutritional quality among the evaluated samples. Acrylamide concentrations varied considerably and did not consistently increase with lower Nutri-Score grades. The highest mean acrylamide levels were observed in grades C (279.8 µg/kg) and D (202.1 µg/kg), both exceeding the benchmark level established for oat-based breakfast cereals (150 µg/kg), whereas grade E products showed substantially lower concentrations (48.6 µg/kg). These findings show that Nutri-Score classification and acrylamide content represent distinct aspects of product evaluation. While Nutri-Score reflects nutritional quality, acrylamide levels indicate food safety with respect to process-related contaminants. Since acrylamide formation is influenced by both formulation and processing conditions that vary among products, nutritional profiling and contaminant assessment should be considered complementary tools for a comprehensive evaluation of cereal-based foods.

Keywords

Acrylamide, Front-of-package nutrition labeling, Nutri-Score, Process contaminants, Oat-based breakfast cereals

References

  1. Abt, E., Robin, L. P., McGrath, S., Srinivasan, J., DiNovi, M., Adachi, Y., & Chirtel, S. (2019). Acrylamide levels and dietary exposure from foods in the United States, an update based on 2011-2015 data. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 36(10), 1475-1490. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2019.1637548
  2. Basaran, B., & Sadighara, P. (2024). The level, human exposure, and health risk assessment of acrylamide in chips and breakfast cereals: A study from Türkiye. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 134, 106584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106584
  3. Bettaieb, I., Kilani, A., Ben Othman, K., Benabderrahim, M. A., & Elfalleh, W. (2023). Phenolic Profile, Sugar Composition, and Antioxidant Capacities of Some Common Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Cultivars as a Potential Nutraceutical and Functional Food Ingredients. Journal of Food Quality, 2023(1), 2474900. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2474900
  4. Bonner, W. A., Gould, M. R., & Milling, T. E. (1975). Ready-to-eat cereal. In: Google Patents.
  5. EU. (2017). Draft Regulation Commission Reg. (EU) on the Application of Control & Mitigation Measures to Reduce the Presence of Acrylamide in Food. . https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2017-2895100_nl
  6. Fast, R. B., Perdon, A. A., & Schonauer, S. L. (2020). 10 - Weighing and blending (including granola processing). In A. A. Perdon, S. L. Schonauer, & K. S. Poutanen (Eds.), Breakfast Cereals and How They Are Made (Third Edition) (pp. 191-201). AACC International Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812043-9.00010-2
  7. French Ministry of Health and Prevention. (2021). Update of the Nutri-Score algorithm: Yearly report from the Scientific Committee of the Nutri-Score. https://sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/annual_report_2021.pdf
  8. Gökmen, V., Kocadağlı, T., Göncüoğlu, N., & Mogol, B. A. (2012). Model studies on the role of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural in acrylamide formation from asparagine. Food Chemistry, 132(1), 168-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.10.048
  9. Gökmen, V., Morales, F. J., Ataç Mogol, B., Serpen, A., & Arribas-Lorenzo, G. (2009). Multiple-stage extraction strategy for the determination of acrylamide in foods. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 22(2), 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2008.09.007
  10. Hafner, E., & Pravst, I. (2024). A systematic assessment of the revised Nutri‐Score algorithm: Potentials for the implementation of front‐of‐package nutrition labeling across Europe. Food Frontiers, 5(3), 947-963. https://doi.org/10.1002/fft2.387
APA
Ataç Mogol, B. (2026). Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 10(2), 448-456. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.18
AMA
1.Ataç Mogol B. Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;10(2):448-456. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.18
Chicago
Ataç Mogol, Burçe. 2026. “Nutritional Quality and Food Safety Evaluation of Granola Products in Türkiye Using Nutri-Score and Acrylamide Levels”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10 (2): 448-56. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.18.
EndNote
Ataç Mogol B (June 1, 2026) Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10 2 448–456.
IEEE
[1]B. Ataç Mogol, “Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 448–456, June 2026, doi: 10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.18.
ISNAD
Ataç Mogol, Burçe. “Nutritional Quality and Food Safety Evaluation of Granola Products in Türkiye Using Nutri-Score and Acrylamide Levels”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10/2 (June 1, 2026): 448-456. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.18.
JAMA
1.Ataç Mogol B. Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;10:448–456.
MLA
Ataç Mogol, Burçe. “Nutritional Quality and Food Safety Evaluation of Granola Products in Türkiye Using Nutri-Score and Acrylamide Levels”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 10, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 448-56, doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.18.
Vancouver
1.Burçe Ataç Mogol. Nutritional quality and food safety evaluation of granola products in Türkiye using nutri-score and acrylamide levels. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026 Jun. 1;10(2):448-56. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.18