Evaluating the chemical and metal contamination of commercial Rakı, a grape-based alcoholic beverage from Turkey

Abstract

Turkish Rakı is one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in Turkey. The chemical and metal contamination of alcoholic beverages is a threat to human health and lowers the quality of the product. Ethyl carbamate and furfural are carcinogenic to animals, and have been classified as Group 2A and 3 agents respectively by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Factors, such as raw materials, process time and storage, affect metal concentrations in beverages. Limits for chemicals and metals in Rakı have not yet been established by the Turkish agency. The present study aimed to evaluate the chemical and metal contamination of commercial Turkish Rakı. Thirty-seven different types of Turkish Rakı were purchased from local markets in Turkey. Ethyl carbamate (EC) and furfural (FR) levels were measured by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Arsenic, copper, lead, and zinc levels were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). None of the Rakı samples contained EC. Furfural was not detected in commercial Rakı samples but only in illegal Rakı samples. Ethanol and methanol levels complied with Turkish regulation. Our data shows that commercial Rakı from Turkey was contaminated by very low amounts of arsenic (<LOD–0.02 mg/L), copper (0.05–0.41 mg/L), lead (< LOD–0.03 mg/L) and zinc (0.01–0.39 mg/L).