Peroxide Index, Trans Fatty Acids, Acrylamide and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Pah) Contents in Frying Oils and Fried Tuna Fish Involved in “Garba” Production in Côte d’Ivoire ()
1. Introduction
These last years, street foods have created a special craze among people in Côte d’Ivoire especially in areas of strong demographic concentrations and important activities [1] . Among street foods, Garba is a ready-to-eat food made of fried tuna-fish, attiéké (cassava-based couscous), chopped pepper and edible vegetable oil [2] . Tuna-fish is mostly fried with refined palm oil and other oil whose quality is most of the time unknown [3] . The tuna-fish frying is carried out by immersion of the fish in a high quantity of vegetable oil at a high temperature varying from 160˚C to 180˚C [4] [5] . Frying is a process that enables improved sensory properties of food including aroma [6] . However, the frying process provokes oil deterioration because it requires high temperature and fast heat transfer [7] [8] . Indeed, the use of edible oil at high temperature induces degradation of major components, notably fatty acids which lead to oil oxydation, polymerisation, isomerisation and hydrolyse [9] . Moreover, the overuse of oil leads to the production of a rate of 10% to 40% of frying-induced compounds in fried oil during Garba production marketed in Abidjan [10] . These compounds which appear during heating can be absorbed by the fried products in permanent way. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), acrylamide and trans fatty acids are some of the toxic compounds newly produced during oil frying which have health adverses [11] .
According to the World Health Organization, these newly frying-induced compounds or polar compounds could be responsible for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and congenital malformations. Since these compounds represent a public health issue, settlements of maximal limits are required so that Garba plays an important role in Ivorian food habits. Hence, this study aims at evaluating the impact of frying fish practices on the quality of “Garba”. Specifically, it aims to:
· the profile and contents of degradation compounds produced during the interaction between the frying oils and the tuna fish used in the production of “Garba” food in Côte d’Ivoire;
· evaluate the trans fatty acids content and the peroxide index value in fried oil;
· determinate acrylamide content of fried oil and fried tuna-fish;
· determine the Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) content in fried tuna-fish and oil.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
During the current study, the sampling of frying oils and tuna fish were made in the District of Abidjan. It is a sub-Saharan nation in West Africa located at 5°19'0.001" N, 4°1'59.999" W (Figure 1).
Samples were collected from 90 restaurants of “Garba” in Abidjan. At the first step, the survey model was developed from the list of the municipality in Abidjan whose demographic data were found in the report of General Population and Housing Census [12] . 10 areas per municipality (Abobo, Cocody and Yopougon) were selected based on this list and the level of consumption of the Garba dish by the population (Figure 2). Finally, three restaurants were randomly selected in each (areas).
2.2. Sampling
A total of 90 samples of oil and fried tuna (Figure 3) were taken from the selected restaurants after the evaluation of the neoformed compounds contents (NF EN ISO 8420). For that, the Testo 270 device (Serial number 20388792 of the polychemy firm, Germany) was used.
Five pieces of fried tuna were randomly taken from the batch of fried fish intended for sale. Also, 45ml of frying oil was sampled. All the samples were wrapped with aluminum foil, labelled and sent to the laboratory using a cooler.
Based on a previous study on the practices adopted by restaurateurs for tuna
Figure 1. Map of the District of Abidjan showing the selected communes.
Figure 2. Study area. (a) Commune of Abobo; (b) Commune of Yopougon; (c) Commune of Cocody.
frying, three stable groups (G1, G2, G3) of restaurateurs were formed according to the similarity of frying practices adopted by restaurateurs in the three municipalities chosen.
Group 1 is characterized by restorers whose measured oils have the content of neoformed compounds of less than 25% for frying at frying temperatures below
Figure 3. Photograph of sample oil and fish. (a) Reused oils sample; (b) New oils sample; (c) Deep-fried tuna sample.
160˚C for frying tuna for 6 to 10 minutes. The oil is used only three times before adding oil.
Group 2 includes all restorers whose reused oils contain neoformed compounds ranging from 25% to 30%. Their frying temperatures are 160˚C and the oil is reused 4 to 6 times before adding oil for frying tuna pieces 11 to 20 minutes during each use of the oil.
Group 3 is dominated by restorers whose oils contain more than 30% neoformed compounds. Their frying oils are reused until blackening before adding new oil at temperatures from 160˚C to over 180˚C for frying times of 11 to 20 minutes [10] .
Fried oil samples were kept away from heat, light and moisture of room temperature, while fried tuna-fish samples were grounded and stored at −18˚C until chemical analysis.
2.3. Analysis of Trans Fatty Acids in Frying Oil
2.3.1. Sample Preparation
Analysis of trans fatty acids was made using the AOAC Official Method SM 996.06 and AOAC Official Method 969.33 [13] . Fatty acid methyl ester of the oil samples was prepared according to AOAC Official Method 969.33 [13] . 1 g homogenized sample was mixed with 2.0 mL ethanol. The entire product was dispersed in 10.0 mL of 8.3 M HCl. 2 mL of triundecanoic acid (5 mg triundecanoic acid in 1 mL CHCl3) and used as the internal standard. The tubes were incubated for 60 minutes at 80˚C in a water bath with intermittent mixing every 10 min. After digestion, the test tubes were allowed to cool at room temperature. 2 mL ethanol was added through the sides of the tube, mixed for 1 minute followed by 25 mL diethyl ether and again mixed for 5 minutes. 25 mL petroleum ether was added, mixed for 5 minutes and allowed to remain for 1 hour until the upper ether phase became clear. The upper phase was transferred into a 150mL beaker and dried slowly under Nitro-gen stream. The extracted fat was weighed and transferred into a glass vial with 3 mL chloroform and 3 mL diethyl ether and dried again. 2 mL of 7% Boron trifluoride (BF3), methylating agent, and 1mL toluene were then added with intermittent mixing to the extracted fat and heated at 100˚C for 45 minutes to convert the fat into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). After methylation, 1 g sodium sulfate solution was added to remove moisture content. Esters were extracted with 1mL hexane transferred into 2 mL vial (Teflon capped) and loaded on gas chromatography (GC) after appropriate dilutions.
2.3.2. Gas Chromatographic Analysis
The fatty acid methyl esters were run on gas chromatography (GC) which was equipped with a flame-ionization detector. Fused silica capillary cis/trans column SP 2560, 100 m × 250 μm internal diameters × 0.20 μm film was used (Supelco, Belefonte, Pennsylvania).
The following temperature programme was used for optimal separation of fatty acids including trans fatty acids: initial oven temperature was 140˚C, hold time was 5 minutes; ramp 1˚C/min; the final temperature was 250˚C; hold time was 25 minutes, and total run time was 120 minutes. Injector port was 225˚C; Detector port was 260˚C; and the gas rates used were 0.3 mL/min carrier gas (Nitrogen), 15 mL/min make up gas (Nitrogen) and 35 and 350 mL/min flame gases hydrogen and air, respectively. A split ratio of 1:10 and an injection volume of 1 μl were used. The fatty acid composition was determined by comparing their retention times with those of known standards (fatty acid methyl esters from SUPELCO). Each peak was quantified by calculating the area under the peak using software from AIMIL (Nucon Technologies). The concentration of individual fatty acid was expressed as a percentage of total area under the peak. Samples were separately analyzed in triplicate. Trans fatty acid was expressed as g/100g food.
2.4. Determination of PAH Profiles by GC-MS/MS in Frying Oil and Fried Tuna Fish
An analytical method based on gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) (triple quadrupole device) was performed according to the method developed by [14] to quantity polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fried Tuna fish and frying oil. After dilution of a test sample of 2g of vegetable oil and 2g fried fish in 2mL of n-hexane containing approximately 0.1 mg of octadecane (C18), the solutions eluted on a column of 30g of high purity silica with 150mL of n-hexane to isolate the hydrocarbon fraction. After evaporation of the solvent, the extract was taken up in 1mL of isooctane and then the determination was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) with a capillary injector 15m stationary phase. The temperature of the ionization detector was set at 380˚C. The temperature of the oven temperature that varied from 100˚C to 370˚C to 20˚C/min allowed the rapid elimination of mineral oils and facilitated the integration of the chromatographic envelope.
2.5. Determination of Acrylamide Content and Peroxide Index
The acrylamide in the samples of oils and fish was determined by isotopic dilution chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS-MS analysis) as described by [15] . This LC-MS-MS analysis of acrylamide was performed with an Agilent 1100 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system (Santa Clara, CA, USA) consisting of a quaternary pump, an autosampler and a temperature-controlled column oven, coupled with an Agilent 1100 MS detector equipped with an electrospray ionization interface. The analytical column was a Kinetex C18 column (100 × 4.6 mm, 2.6 μm particle size) from Phenomenex (Torrance, CA, USA). The mobile phase was acetonitrile and 1/1000 formic acid aqueous solution (30:70, v/v) with a flow-rate of 0.2 mL/min. The temperature of the column was kept at 25˚C. Data acquisition was performed, with a delay time of 8 min, in a selected ion-monitoring (MRM) mode using the following interface parameters: a drying gas (N2, 665Pa) flow of 11 L/min, nebulizer pressure of 300Pa, drying gas temperatures of 350˚C, a capillary voltage of 11kV and a fragmenter voltage of 40eV.
The peroxide index in oil samples was determined according to the method described by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
2.6. Statistical Analysis
The physico-chemical characterization data were analyzed for variance using the general linear model of the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS version 9.2). The contents trans fatty acids and peroxide value, acid value in oils were subjected to a one-factor ANOVA (oil sample group), PAHs and acrylamides were subjected to a two-factor ANOVA (analytical samples and sample groups). The Student Newman-Keuls test at the 5% was used for the comparison of averages. Then, a correlation was performed using MINITAB 14 software. The Pearson correlation coefficient was determined between the different acrylamide and PAH contents in the oils of the groups formed. The significant difference was accepted when P < 0.05.
3. Results
3.1. Variability of Trans Fatty Acids Content and Peroxide, Index of Frying Oils
The trans fatty acids content and peroxide index of frying oils vary according to the groups (p < 0.05; Table 1). Indeed, the highest linoelaïdic acid content (6.92%) of oils was recorded in the group G3 characterized by fried oil used until blackening, containing newly frying-induced compounds rate from 25% to 75%. Frying temperature ranged between 160˚C and over 180˚C with fish cooking duration ranging between 6 and 10 min (p < 0.05; Table 1), while the lowest value (6.14%) was recorded in the group G1 composed of re-used oil (4 - 6 times) heat at 180˚C during 11 - 15 min and containing newly frying-induced compounds rate over than 25%.
On the other hand, vaccenic acid content and total trans fatty acids rate of the group G2 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than values found in both G1 and G3 groups. The peroxide index varies between 11.97% and 15.01% with the highest value found in G3 (P < 0.05).
3.2. Acrylamide Content of Frying Oil and Fried Tuna-Fish
Table 2 shows the variation of acrylamide content of fried tuna-fish and frying oil according to the group. The acrylamide concentration in frying oil fluctuates between 15.69 µg/kg and 25.50 µg/kg while in fried tuna-fish it ranges from 62.90 µg/kg to 78.29 µg/kg. For both fried tuna-fish and frying oil, the G2 had recorded the highest concentration of acrylamide (P < 0.05). Significant differences in acrylamide content (P < 0.05) are recorded among groups (G1, G2 and G3) of fried tuna-fish and frying oil. Indeed, acrylamide content of fried tuna-fish is significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the concentration recorded in frying oil considering the three groups and their average value.
3.3. Variations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) Content in Frying Oil and Tuna-Fish by Group
PAH level recorded in frying oil and fried tuna-fish is given in Table 3. The
Table 1. Trans fatty acids content and peroxide index value in frying oil.
***: P< 0.001; SE: Standard Error; The Mean ± SE followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different from P > 0.05. G1: group 1; G2: group 2; G3: group 3. The capital letters were used to compare average of three groups.
Table 2. Acrylamide content in fried tuna-fish and frying oil.
***: P< 0.001; SE: Standard Error; The Mean ± SE followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different from P > 0.05. G1: group 1; G2: group 2; G3: group 3. The capital letters were used to compare average of three groups.
Table 3. PAH concentration in frying oil and fried tuna-fish.
***: P < 0.001; The Mean ± SE followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different from P > 0.05. G1: group 1; G2: group 2; G3: group 3. The capital letters were used to compare average of three groups.
concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), determined in frying oil, ranges from 1.48 ± 0.11 µg/kg to 2.66 ± 0.19 µg/kg. While in fried tuna-fish, BaP concentration ranges from 0.80 ± 0.20 µg/kg and 1.96 ± 0.31 µg/kg. In frying oil, the highest contents in Benzo(a) anthracene, Benzo(b) fluoranthène, Benzo(a) pyrene, Chrysène, Anthracène, Benzo(k) fluorantène, Benzo(j), fluoranthène, Benzo(j.h.i)pérylène, Dibenz(a.h) anthracene, Fluoranthène, Indeno(1.2.3.-cd)pyrene were found in the oils of the group G2 characterized by frying oil used until blackening, containing newly frying-induced compounds rate between 25% and 75%. Frying temperature ranged between 160˚C and over 180˚C with fish cooking duration ranging between 6 and 10 mins. The lowest contents in Benzo(a) anthracene, Benzo(b) fluoranthène, Benzo(a) pyrene, Chrysène, Anthracène, Benzo(k) fluorantène, Benzo(j), fluoranthène, Benzo(j.h.i)pérylène, Dibenz(a.h) anthracene, Fluoranthène, Indeno(1.2.3.-cd)pyrene were recorded in the oils of the group G1 (P < 0.05). This group gathers oils characterized by newly frying-induced compounds rate. Less than 25% of their heating temperatures are below 160˚C; the frying duration is about 5 min, and the frequency of re-used is 3 times before addition of fresh oil.
In fried Tuna fish, the same trend was observed. Samples of the group G1 have the highest PAH concentration while G3 samples have lower PAH concentration for frying oil as well as fried tuna-fish (P < 0.05).
3.4. Relationship between Acrylamide Content and PAH Concentrations of Frying Oil and Fried Tuna-Fish
The relationships between acrylamide content and PAH concentrations of frying oil and fried tuna-fish are given in Table 4. It appears that Anthracene content in the frying oil was strongly and positively associated (0.96 ≤ r ≤ 0.99; P <
Table 4. Relationship between acrylamide content and PAH concentrations of frying oil and fried tuna-fish.
NS: P > 0.05 (Non-Significant); ***: P < 0.001. Anthracene_O: Anthracene content in the frying oil; B(a)anthra_O: B(a)Anthracene content in the frying oil; B(b)fluoran_O: B(b) Fluoranthene content in the frying oil; B(a)pyrene_O: B(a) pyrene content in the frying oil; Chrysene: Chrysene content in the frying oil; Fluoranthene_O: Fluoranthene content in the frying oil; Anthracene_F: Anthracene content in the fried fish; B(a)anthra_F: B(a)Anthracene content in the fried fish; B(b)fluoran_F: B(b) Fluoranthene content in the fried fish; B(a)pyrene_F: B(a) pyrene content in the fried fish; Chrysene_F: Chrysene content in the fried fish; Fluoranthene_F: Fluoranthene content in the fried fish; Acrylamyde_O: Acrylamyde content in the frying oil; Acrylamyde_F: Acrylamyde content in the fried fish.
0.001) with:
· the Anthracene content in the fried fish;
· B(a)Anthracene content in the fried fish;
· B(b) Fluoranthene content in the fried fish;
· B(a) pyrene content in the fried fish;
· Chrysene content in the fried fish;
· Fluoranthene content in the fried fish;
· B(a)Anthracene content in the frying oil;
· B(b) Fluoranthene content in the frying oil;
· B(a) pyrene content in the frying oil;
· Chrysene content in the frying oil;
· and Fluoranthene content in the frying oil.
Similarly, B(a)Anthracene content in the frying oil; B(b)Fluoranthene content in the frying oil; B(a) pyrene content in the frying oil and Chrysene content in the frying oil were also strongly and positively associated (0.96 ≤ r ≤ 0.99; P < 0.001) with:
· the Anthracene content in the fried fish;
· B(a)Anthracene content in the fried fish;
· B(b)Fluoranthene content in the fried fish;
· B(a)pyrene content in the fried fish;
· Chrysene content in the fried fish;
· Fluoranthene content in the fried fish and B(a)Anthracene content in the frying oil; B(b).
Furthermore, Acrylamyde content in the frying oil was strongly and positively associated (r = 0.99; P < 0.001) with the Acrylamyde content in the fried fish. However, any significant correlation wasn’t found between Acrylamyde content in the frying oil and the different PAH concentrations of frying oil and fried tuna-fish.
4. Discussion
The peroxide number and acid number values determined for the three groups are higher than the standard values set by the codex alimantarius, which are respectively 10 meqO2/kg and 0.6 mg KOH/g for the consumption oil [16] . These high oil index values could reflect the deteriorating state of the oils, which are mainly used to fry tuna in the “Garba”. This deterioration would come from the initial quality of the oils, most often of an unknown nature, or from different practices such as the application of temperatures from 160˚C to 180˚C, numerous reuses, but also from the frying environment. Indeed, the restaurateurs of this dish adopt the practice of overusing oil with oil additions during frying with traditional open fryers [10] . This common practice in gargotes according to [17] , of continuous and repeated use of frying oil is adopted to reduce restaurant owners’ expenses. However, the oil is subject to high heat, oxygen (from air or food) and moisture (from food) for long periods of frying time, resulting in a complex series of oxidation, hydrolysis, isomerization and polymerization reactions [18] [19] . These reactions lead to a deterioration of the initial composition of the oil (Brühl, 2014) and the subsequent generation of a wide variety of volatile and non-volatile compounds [20] , which eventually modify the sensory, nutritional and functional properties of the oil (Crosa et al., 2014). Since foods absorb a remarkable amount of oil during frying, making frying oil a component of the frying product [21] [22] , oil degradation will then have negative effects on the sensory properties of fried foods [23] [24] but also on consumer health [25] [26] , hence the quantification of three new compounds, trans fatty acids, acrylamide and PAHs in both reused oils and fried tuna, of the total share of measured polar substances for better health risk assessment. In addition, the higher the frying temperature, the more atypical fatty acids and new toxic compounds are formed under the influence of heat, which degrades the quality of the oil over time during the many reuses. The levels of trans fatty acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and acrylamide quantified in frying oils and fried tuna in “Garba” dishes throughout the study area are significant. The trans fatty acid content of the oil in the three practice groups exceeds 1% of the tolerable trans fatty acids for consumption according to the World Health Organization. Health problems such as heart attack, the development of components of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes may occur in people whose diets are high in trans fatty acids [27] [28] [29] . Indeed, numerous intervention or epidemiological studies in humans have shown that the increase in trans fatty acid consumption was correlated with the increase in cardiovascular risk factors. For high levels of intake, trans fatty acids increase LDL cholesterol as do saturated fatty acids, but trans fatty acids also tend to lower HDL cholesterol. Based on some results reported in the literature, also a threshold of 1.3% to 3% of trans fatty acid consumed as a proportion of total energy can be safe.
An analysis of several studies (meta-analysis) on influence of the level of trans C18:1 consumption (expressed as a % of total energy intake) compared to oleic acid (C18:1 cis), shows a dose-response effect with LDL-C and to a lesser extent about 1% of total energy intake with HDL cholesterol.
Also, the high levels of acrylamide quantified in fried tuna are believed to be due to the sprinkling of manioc and wheat flour on fish by the majority of restaurateurs in the “Garba” before frying. These flours made of simple sugar (glucoses, fructoses, etc.) in addition to asparagine (protein) contained in tuna are precursors to acrylamide, which appears at temperatures around 120˚C during frying [30] [31] . During frying, the Maillard reaction is the main reaction affecting sugars and proteins. The high acrylamide contents quantified in the fried tunas of the three groups formed would also come from the application of high temperature for frying. In fact, in a study by Miao et al. in 2013, it was shown that temperature increases during long cooking times of potato chips increased acrylamide levels in the food as a result. However, acrylamide values in fried tuna samples from all groups in this study are lower than those determined in chips (786.3 µg/kg), cookies (389.5 µg/kg), bread (84.4 µg/kg) also heat treated by frying in other studies [32] . However, the acrylamide values of the reuitized oil samples are in perfect agreement with those found in almonds and some seeds that also varied from 15 to 60 µg/kg [33] . The ingestion of acrylamide via food may expose us to the risk of cancer because, after several studies in animals, a carcinogenic effect has been observed. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has therefore classified acrylamide as “probably neurotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic to humans” [34] .
In addition, the observation by restaurateurs in the “Garba” of the application of very high temperatures that are difficult to control for frying tuna with rudimentary equipment should be at the origin of quantified PAHs [3] . The BaP contents and the sum of the contents of Benzo(a)anthracene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benzo(a)pyrene and Chrysene quantified in frying oils and fried tuna for the three groups are below the maximum limit of 2 µg/Kg for B(a)P and 10 µg/Kg respectively for the sum of the four PAHs (European Commission EC No 1881/2011 for oils and fats intended for direct consumption). However, the low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in both types of samples should still be preoccupying because these bioaccumulative substances in the body are carcinogenic [35] . The observed possitive correlation between acrylamide and PAHs of frying oils and fried tunas could confirm their membership in the total proportion of neoformed substances in the oil.
5. Conclusion
In the light of this work, it was noted that trans fatty acid, acrylamide and 11 PAHs were present in the sampled reused frying oils and fried tuna from the “Garba” dish. The contents of the different quantified PAHs in the samples of the three groups (G1, G2, G3) are very low but not negligible because they are likely to bioaccumulate. On the other hand, high levels of trans fatty acids and acrylamide have been quantified. In addition, the peroxide and acid indices of the oils reused for the many frying cycles are generally high. The oils collected from group G1 and G2 conservators reusing the oil at high temperatures contain the highest values of the three substances, the acid number and the peroxide number. The health risk assessment approach of this study made it possible to estimate exposures, hazard quotient, hazard index related to quantified substances in reused oils and fried tuna from the “Garba” marketed in Abidjan. Exposure to neoformed compounds has been estimated. Increased consumption of this meal could have consequences for the health of consumers because the meal contains substances known to be harmful. In addition, this theoretical study to assess the health risk associated with the consumption of fried tuna and reused oils revealed a cancer risk from acrylamide and Benzo(a)pyrene. It is therefore important to ensure that good practices in the use of oils are monitored and applied to improve the quality of fried tuna and preserve the quality of the oil during the many frying cycles. This is why, in chapter three, an optimization of the parameters influencing the frying process will be carried out.
Acknowledgements
This research has been supported by the International Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden, through a research grant (N˚.E/5397-1, 2013-06-19) awarded to Mr Daouda NIMAGA. The authors thank Nangui Abrogoua University (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) and the government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire for all supports during this research.