Novel source of semicarbazide: levels of semicarbazide in cooked crayfish samples determined by LC/MS/MS.

摘要

The use of nitrofuran antibiotics in animal healthcare is prohibited. Semicarbazide is a breakdown product of 5-nitrofurazone, and protein bound semicarbazide is used as a marker residue for the illegal use of this drug. This study investigated levels of semicarbazide in cooked Finnish crayfsh samples. Positive identification was undertaken by LC coupled with tandem MS detection. The average levels of total semicarbazide and the protein bound form were 4.2 and 0.5 ng/g fresh crayfish meat, respectively. All of the tested samples (n = 18) contained traces of semicarbazide, the highest amount being 12 ng/g fresh crayfish meat. The origin of the semicarbazide in the crayfish samples is unknown.