Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia in an acute-exposure rat model

► Benzocaine has been proposed as a sedative for immobilizing food producing finfish. ► Benzocaine is known to induce methemoglobinemia. ► We determined if orally administered benzocaine would induce methemoglobin in rats. ► The results suggest that eating benzocaine-treated fish will not cause methemoglobinemia.