Acrylamide residues in extruded pet bird foods

Background: Acrylamide is a well-known process contaminantformed during high-temperature manufacturing (e.g., extru-sion). It is mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic, with sys-temic toxicity and prominent neurotoxicity. Adverse effects havebeen reported in several species, including birds. Companionpet birds are increasingly popular, yet data on acrylamide oc-currence in commercial extruded pet bird feeds and drivers ofhigher concentrations remain limited. Its potential presencecould be particularly relevant because extruded/pelleted feedsare widely used by owners as convenient complete diets, oftenfed exclusively over long periods.Hypothesis: This study aimed to quantify acrylamide concen-trations for the first time in commercially available extrudedfeeds for companion pet birds and to discuss its plausible pres-ence and implications for chronic exposure in these species.Methods: Twenty-three extruded pet bird feeds were sampled, in-cluding products manufactured within and outside the EuropeanUnion. Acrylamide was quantified using an official control LC–MS/MS analysis method (LOD: 5 μg/kg; LOQ: 10 μg/kg).Results: Acrylamide was detected in all samples. Six products(26.1%) had concentrations between the LOD and LOQ, whileseventeen (73.9%) were at or above the LOQ (range 12–85μg/kg;median 19μg/kg). No clear associations were identified betweenacrylamide levels and declared macronutrients, major ingredi-ents, or country of manufacture, likely due to the label-basedcompositional data.Conclusion: All samples contained variable but measur-able acrylamide concentrations. In scientific literature, dose-dependent ataxia, weakness, and depression have been reportedwith chronic administrations of 12 mg/kg acrylamide and re-peated doses of 50 mg/kg acrylamide were associated withdeath within two weeks in hens. Given the frequent exclusiveuse of these complete diets and the considerably smaller size ofthese species compared to humans, chronic toxicity is plausible.Larger studies should better characterize determinants of acryl-amide formation in pet bird feeds and estimate dietary exposureand potential health implications in companion birds.