Analytical methodology for emulsifiers used in fatty foods: a review

The current status of analytical methodology for emulsifiers used in fatty foods is reviewed. Faster and more precise methodology for both quality control purposes and for quantitative removal from foods is desirable. A key problem is the quantitativ removal from foods to the exclusion of interfering substances. This aspect is complicated by (a) the presence of other food ingredients such as proteins and carbohydrates, (b) innate heterogeneity of most of the emulsifiers, and (c) wide variability in composition of most of the emulsifiers. The broad applicability of chromatography is discussed, with the prediction made that high pressure liquid chromatography will be the technique of the future. Analytical details are not included, as these are available in the cited publications.