ABSTRACT
Herein, the effects of basil usage in meatball production on various quality criteria and heterocyclic aromatic amine (HAA) formation were investigated. The use of basil at every rate caused a significant reduction in TBARS value compared to control group. Cooking caused an increase in pH and TBARS values. IQx, IQ, AαC and MeAαC compounds could not be detected, while various amounts of MeIQx, MeIQ, 7,8-DiMeIQx, 4,8-DiMeIQx and PhIP were determined in the samples. Total HAA contents were determined up to 1.61 ng g-1 and increasing of cooking temperature increased total HAA content, except for meatball with 1% basil. The reducing or enhancing effect of the use of basil in meatball production on the formation of HAA varied depending on the usage rate and cooking temperature. It was determined that even if 100 g of the meatballs containing 0.5% basil cooked at 250 °C whose total amount of HAA content was the highest, is eaten, the intake amount is far below 1 µg.