Biogenic Amine Content of Beers Consumed in Turkey and Influence of Storage Conditions on Biogenic Amine Formation

The biogenic amine content of beers available in Turkey, both domestic production and imported products, was investigated. A total of 17 domestic and 13 imported beers were evaluated in terms of 8 different biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, spermine, spermidine, 2-phenylethylamine, putrescine, tryptamine and cadaverine). HPLC methodology with pre-column derivatization and photodiode array detection after derivatization with dansyl chloride was used for quantification. In addition, the evolution of important amines such as histamine, tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine were investigated during different storage conditions by response surface methodology. The results indicated that both storage temperature and storage time were important factors affecting biogenic amine content. Histamine and putrescine increased during storage, but then decreased after reaching a maximum level after six weeks. With the biogenic amines tyramine and cadaverine, the amounts increased during the entire storage period. At higher storage temperatures, the formation of biogenic amines increased

Content of biogenic amines and polyamines in beers from the Czech Republic

Altogether 114 samples of alcoholic and non-alcoholic bottled beer produced in 28 breweries in the Czech Republic were monitored for levels of biogenic amines (BA) and polyamines (PA). The beers were analysed immediately after purchase and then at the end of the best-before period (storage temperature 8 +/- 1 degrees C). The concentrations of histamine, phenylethylamine and tryptamine in the studied samples were very low (mostly under 30 mg L-1). The studied PA spermine and spermidine also occurred in small amounts. Nevertheless, the levels of tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine reached significant values, especially in alcoholic beers. In almost 25% of the tested samples of alcoholic beers (at the end of the best-before period), the total amount of all the monitored BA and PA exceeded the 'healthy' level of 100 mg L-1, which is considered toxicologically significant, especially in alcoholic beverages. Copyright (C) 2012 The Institute of Brewing & Distillin