The contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs by thermally treated high-protein foods,
such as charcoal-grilled meat products, is due to the generation by direct pyrolysis of food nutrients
and the direct deposition of PAHs from smoke produced through incomplete combustion of the thermal
agents. This study investigated the effects on the PAH (BaP, BbFln and Fln) contents by using two different
types of treatments, preheating (steam and microwave) and wrapping (aluminium and banana leaf) of
the meat samples prior to charcoal grilling. PAHs were extracted through tandem solid-phase extraction.
The results showed that the applied preheating and wrapping treatments on the samples strongly affect
the PAHs levels in the charcoal-grilled meat. No carcinogenic PAHs (BaP and BbFln) were detected in the
samples after steam and microwave preheating or aluminium wrapping treatments. Significant reductions
of Fln content, of up to 46% and 81% in beef and chicken samples, respectively, were observed in
the study