A rapid method (less than 20 min/sample from sample preparation through final determination) is described for the determination and confirmation of the plant toxin, myristicin [1-allyl-3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene], in fresh, frozen, and canned carrots at levels ranging from 5 to 20 ug/g. Myristicin is extracted from carrot homogenates with hexane in the presence of sodium bisulfite. An aliquot of the crude extract is separated from interfering lipids and pigments using a commercially available silica gel cartridge. The purified extract is concentrated and then analyzed by gas chromatography on a nonpolar stationary phase (OV-101) using flame ionization detection. Suspected positive findings are confirmed using a second stationary phase of moderate polarity (OV-225). Recoveries of added myristicin to fresh and processed carrots at levels from 5 to 20 ug/g averaged 95.6% with a coefficient of variation of 4.8%. Six samples of fresh carrots collected from different growing areas exhibited levels of myristicin from 1.1 to 16.6 ug/g. The limit of detection of the method is approximately 0.5 ug/g.