It's usually because the breading isn't pressed on firmly enough, or the food is too wet.
Press the breading onto the food firmly to make sure it sticks. Small parts of breading that fall off can produce white smoke.
For marinated foods, meats, or anything juicy: pat the food dry with a paper towel before placing it in the basket. This prevents juices from splashing into the melted fat and loosening the coating.
Also, make sure you're not overfilling the basket. Ingredients need space for air to circulate.