Determination of benzo[a]pyrene in some Spanish commercial smoked products by HPLC-FL

In order to investigate the levels of the potently carcinogenic benzoa]pyrene (BP), 31 samples of smoke foods were analysed. The samples tested included five samples of meat products, three samples of cheese and 22 samples of fish. A liquid chromatographic method was developed using a fluorescence detector. BP was found in 74% of the samples analysed. The levels varied from not detected to 2.46 mug/kg. Only one sample showed a BP level above 1 mug/kg, the maximum level that the EU intends to set for smoked foods.