Abstract: Sugar-rich foods could generate large amounts of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural during thermal processing. During these different processes, the contents of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural were also different in foods. When the contents of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural exceeded a certain limit, it would harm human health. In this paper, the mechanisms, determination methods and safety of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural have been reviewed.

Key words: furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), mechanism, content determination, safety