RESUMEN
Processed meat products are presumptive sources of mutagens and genotoxins for consumers. Several epidemiological studies have reported that these products' high intakes have a positive link with cancer incidence. In Algeria, industrially processed meat products are widely consumed. However, there are no earlier studies involving their genotoxic activity. For this end, the current study aimed at evaluating the mutagenicity and the genotoxicity of some representative industrially processed meat products sold in popular supermarkets. All samples were extracted by established method, using both polar and non-polar solvents. The meat extracts mutagenicity was assessed by Ames test, using four strains of Salmonella typhimurium in the presence and absence of metabolic activation, and subsequently by treat and wash assay for extracts showing biologically significant results. The genotoxicity was determined in TK6 human lymphoblastoid cells using the in vitro micronucleus assay in micromethod. The results showed that all extracts analyzed induce no mutagenic activity. However, one of these extracts induced a biologically significant increase in the number of micronucleated cells. Our findings indicate the importance of the genetic damage detection for taking measures to suppress or reduce the exposure to harmful contaminants and encourage further research investigating genotoxic effects of industrially processed meat worldwide.