DETERMINATION OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS IN LIQUID FOODS BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

Artificial sweeteners are widely used nowadays in order to substitute sugar. The analysis for various foods is very important for food quality control and regulation enforcement. In this study, the presence of five different artificial sweeteners aspartame, acesulfame k, saccharin, sucralose and rebaudioside A were analysed in 38 liquid food items including soft drinks, fruit juices, energy drinks and dairy products using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sweeteners aspartame, acesulfame k and saccharin were separated on a C18 column and were identified using a diode array detector. Sucralose was analysed using a refractive index detector while a UV detector was used for rebaudioside A. The validation of the analysis methods was determined in terms of sensi-tivity, linearity range, precision, repeatability, analytical recovery and residual analysis. Out of the thirty eight samples analysed, artificial sweeteners were detected in twenty samples. Therefore it can be concluded that there is a tendency by manufacturers to add mixture of artificial sweeteners in a product