Short communicationA survey of ethyl carbamate in beer from Chinese market

- A survey of level of EC in beer form Chinese markets was carried out.
- Mean of domestic beer was lower than that of imported beer.
- The EC level of canned beer was lower than that of bottled beer.
- EC level of beer in different countries varied obviously.
- Positive correlation of EC content with alcohol content and storage conditions.

Result of a survey of ethyl carbamate (EC) in beer was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). 217 samples were purchased from supermarkets in five cities of China. The concentrations of EC ranged from n.d. to 19.6 μg/kg with an average level of 2.2 μg/kg, and positive rate was 95.4%. Mean in domestic beer (N = 142, incidence 97.3%) was 1.8 μg/kg, lower than the 2.9 μg/kg in imported beer (N = 75, incidence 94.4%). The result of domestic beer showed that EC level in canned beer (N = 73, mean = 1.5 μg/kg) was lower than that in bottled beer (N = 69, mean = 2.1 μg/kg). Additionally, EC level of beer from different countries was varied. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation of EC content in beer with alcohol content, storage time, temperature and light exposure was observed.