Investigations of Edible Oils for Volatile Nitrosamines

Twenty-one commercial edible oils and five margarine samples were purchased locally and analyzed for nitrosamines (NAs) by a gas-liquid chromatograph interfaced with a Thermal Energy Analyzer. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), at levels of 0.22–1.01 ppb, was the only volatile apparent NA detected. These levels were found in 7/7 corn, 6/6 olive, 2/2 sunflower, 1/3 soybean, 2/3 undesignated oils, and 4/5 margarine samples. The other three oils and one margarine sample showed no NDMA at the lower limit of 0.1 ppb. These levels of nitrosamine detected in the edible oils tested were much lower than the levels previously reported.