Ethyl carbamate (EC) was analyzed during yellow rice wine production and storage. EC increased slowly
during fermentation and rapidly after frying and sterilization. Less amount of EC was formed when cooled
rapidly to 30 C than when cooled naturally. High temperature and long storage time increased EC formation.
After 400 days storage, EC increased from 74.0 to 84.2, 131.8 and 509.4 lg/kg at 4 C, room temperature
and 37 C, respectively, and there was significantly difference between the fried wine and the wine
on sale from 2011 (p < 0.01). Urea increased during yellow rice wine fermentation and was above 20 mg/
kg after the wine was fried; urea contributed to EC formation when the fried wine was cooled slowly.
These results indicate that it is necessary for industry to optimize the wine frying conditions, such as
temperature, time and cooling process in order to decrease EC formation.