Determinación del contenido de nitratos y nitritos en brócoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica) comercializados en la Ciudad de Osorno, Chile

Abstract

Levels of nitrates and nitrites in the raw and cooked broccoli, from the Chilean Regions of Coquimbo, Valparaiso and Metropolitan, which is marketed and consumed in the southern city of Osorno in Chile were analysed. In raw product (nitrate extraction procedures by means of cadmium and barium chloride solution), the nitrate levels were between 521 to 5638 mg NO 3- / kg, while the boiled products (soluble nitrates in boiled water for 10 minutes), no traces of nitrite were detected and low levels of nitrate (124 to 952 mg NO 3- / kg). From the results it is concluded that the broccoli samples studied are of good quality and are under acceptable values reported in the literature.