The 3-year research, starting on 1 January 2025, will focus on the chemical food safety assessment of modern foods, in particular alternative meat substitutes. The project will investigate the presence of processing contaminants such as acrylamide, PAHs and metals in different meat substitutes such as wheat, pea, bean, soy, microprotein and insect-based products.

In addition to Hungary, the research is being carried out in Sweden and Portugal, to get a comprehensive picture of pollutant levels in European regions. The results will be used to produce a risk assessment that will provide insight into the potential health risks associated with the consumption of meat substitutes.

The project will also develop a comprehensive database and knowledge graph to help understand the links between contaminants and food safety aspects. Our results will play an important role in improving the safety of modern food and protecting consumer health.