An updated short-review of the carcinogenicity and the genotoxicity studies with acrylamide (AA) is provided. The review includes: (i) chemical and physical data of AA. (ii) occurrence of AA in foods. (iii) carcinogenicity of AA in rats and mice. (iv) AA exposure (occupational and dietary) and cancer in human. (v) genotoxicity of AA in vivo and in vitro. (vi) metabolism of AA. (vii) genotoxicity of glycidamide, an epoxide metabolite of AA. (viii) binding of AA to proteins and nucleic acids. (ix) risk assessment of AA in food, including lifetime cancer hazards after exposure to AA. (x) threshold of carcinogenicity of AA (Application of Rozman scale to AA carcinogenicity). In addition to the description of data reported, data gaps and priority research needs are discussed.