Effect of Celery Powder as an Alternative Nitrite Source on Some Quality Properties and Nitrosamine Formation in Sucuk

This study aimed to determine the effects of celery powder (nitrate converted to nitrite) and cooking time on the formation of nitrosamine in sucuk. The microbiological and physicochemical properties were also investigated. Four sucuk batters were prepared: T1 -100 mg/kg synthetic sodium nitrite, T2 -150 mg/kg synthetic sodium nitrite, T3 -celery powder equivalent to 100 mg/kg nitrite, T4 -celery powder equivalent to 150 mg/ kg nitrite. After ripening (initial fermentation temperature: 24 +/- 1 degrees C, ripening time: 7 days), the samples were subjected to the analyses. Lactic acid bacteria and Micrococcus/ Staphylococcus were not affected by the treatment. T4 treatment showed higher pH values than T1 and T2. The celery powder groups (T3 and T4) showed lower aw values than other groups (T1 and T2). No significant differences were observed between the treatments in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value, residual nitrite level, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) contents. However, N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) content was found to have higher in T4 treatment. Cooking time, especially 3 min, caused a significant increase in nitrosamine content. The effect of cooking time on nitrosamines was also revealed in principal component analysis.