Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nitrosamine is a carcinogen and the maximum level in processed meat products set by WHO. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine nitrosamine levels in meat products in Medan City and compared nitrosamine levels with standards set by WHO. METHODS: The samples analysed were obtained from Berastagi Supermarket, sausages, burgers, corned beef and smoked beef. Nitrosamine levels were determined by reverse phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The results showed that only 5 out of 20 samples of N-nitroso-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (NTCA) nitrosamine ranged from 501.290 to 4227.492 µg/kg. The highest level of NTCA was found in smoked beef (Chiefs), which is 4227.492 µg/kg. N-nitroso-2-methyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (NMTCA) was contained in all the samples analysed which ranged from 20.50 to 989.175 µg/kg. The highest NMTCA nitrosamine content was found in smoked beef (Chiefs), which is 989.175 µg/kg. CONCLUSION: From this study reveal that nitrosamines in meat products exceed the maximum standards set by WHO (10 µg/kg).