Assay of N-nitrosamines in foodstuffs produced in the USSR by gas-liquid chromatography with a thermal energy analyser.

The content of volatile N-nitrosamines in over 4000 samples of domestic foodstuffs of plant and animal origin were studied. It was found that 88% of the samples studied contained N-nitrosamines, the greatest amounts being detected in some samples of malt and beer, fish products and some meat products. The impact of food processing technologies on the formation of N-nitrosamines is discussed. Possibilities of preventing the accumulation of N-nitrosamines during the process of food production are discussed.