Liquid chromatographic determination of seven antioxidants in dry food

The liquid chromatographic determinative step of the official method for propyl gallate, trihydroxybutyrophenone, tert-butylhydroquinone, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in fats and oils has been applied to their determination in a number of dry foods. A representative sample (10 g) is homogenized first with hexane (25 mL), then with 5 mL added water, and finally with 75 mL added acetonitrile. The hexane and acetonitrile are decanted, filtered, and separated; the hexane and rehydrated food are reextracted with 2 additional portions of acetonitrile, and the combined acetonitrile extracts are concentrated and diluted to 10 mL. An aliquot is analyzed as described in the official method, using a 150 x 4.6 mm 5 microns C-18 column. The need for rehydration to maximize the recovery of BHA and other antioxidants from marketplace dry food samples such as potato flakes, dry coffee whiteners, and dessert topping mixes was demonstrated. Rehydration was not required for cheese snacks, breakfast cereals, cake mixes, and some other foods. The need for rehydration should be determined by analyzing other foods with and without the addition of water. Potato and corn chips, popcorn and cheese snacks, breakfast cereals, dry beverage mixes, rice, potato flakes, french fried potatoes, and cake mixes were spiked with the above antioxidants at 10-50 ppm. Overall recoveries ranged from 64.3 to 105.6% and repeatabilities ranged from 0.7 to 10.8%. A total of 109 samples of the above foods were analyzed, and 64% contained detectable (greater than 1-2 ppm) antioxidants, mainly BHA and BHT.