Effect of potato starch coating containing selected amino acids to prevent the formation of PhIP in pan-fried chicken breast

The effects of potato starch (PS) coating containing amino acids (AAs) on the formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP) in chicken breasts were evaluated. PhIP is classified as a Group 2B carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The 5% (w/w) gelatinized PS coating solution was incorporated with tryptophan (Trp) or lysine (Lys) at 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% (w/w of the coating solution) concentrations. Chicken breast cuts with the same dimensions (5 × 2 × 1.5 cm) were dipped in the PS coating solution for 15 min before frying. After frying the chicken at 195°C for 7.5 min on each side, PhIP levels, color, cooking loss, tenderness, and texture profile assay were evaluated. The average PhIP concentration was decreased from 92.62 ng/g for the control chicken breast without coating to 6.30 ng/g (0.25% Lys), 6.76 ng/g (0.5% Lys), and 11.98 ng/g (0.75% Lys), accounting for an 89%–92% reduction in PhIP levels compared to the controls. However, dipping in Trp-containing PS coating had a significantly lower (p < 0.05) PhIP reduction effect (34%–67%). There was no significant difference in cooking loss percentage, tenderness, texture profile parameters, and color parameters of PS-coated chicken. Triangle test results showed that consumers did not detect a significant difference in the PS-coated chicken breasts (p < 0.001). Overall, this study suggests that the application of PS-based coatings incorporated with AAs on chicken breast reduces the PhIP formation.