Acrylamide

Acrylamide is something that can be found in some foods that we eat, especially if they are cooked or heated at very high temperatures. When we cook some foods, like potatoes, certain sugars and amino acids react in a way that creates acrylamide.

Now for the science bit: Acrylamide is a chemical made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. It's not something we want to eat a lot of because it has been linked to cancer in animals, and some studies suggest it could increase the risk of cancer in humans too.

But don't worry too much! The good news is that not all foods contain acrylamide, and there are ways to reduce exposure to it. For example, you can try boiling or steaming your potatoes instead of frying them, since frying at high temperatures is one way to create acrylamide.

So, it's important to be aware of acrylamide and try to limit our intake of it, but we don't need to be scared of it either. It's just one of many things to keep in mind when we're making choices about what to eat!