Determination of extractable, apparent total N-nitroso compounds in cured-meat products.

The modification of a newly developed method for determination of apparent total N-nitroso compounds by chemical denitrosation and chemiluminescence detection of nitric oxide (thermal energy analysis) is described. The minimum level of reliable measurement was 0.1 ppm, and the repeatability of the method was 0.2 ppm, based on the response of N-nitrosoproline (NPro). Seventy-three samples of cured-meat products, including frankfurters, bacon, and ham, were examined ; 50 samples contained less than 1 ppm. The largest amounts, up to 24.8 ppm, were detected in canned corned beef. This method has several advantages over other methods.