Comparison of analytical methods to determine sodium content of low-sodium foods.

U.S. nutrition labeling regulations require the declaration of sodium content on food products. Accurate and reproducible determination of Na in foods with low Na content (< 140 mg/serving) is challenging because of laboratory contamination. Within-laboratory performance of inductively coupled plasma/MS (ICP/MS), flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS), ion-selective electrode (ISE), and potentiometric titration of chloride ion were evaluated in 17 low-sodium foods. For 13 types of food, statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) exist between the within-day andlor interday means obtained by ICP/MS, FAAS, and ISE. Median within-day and interday precent RSD values were 2.7 and 6.1, 3.5 and 3.2, and 5.6 and 6.2%, respectively, by ICP/MS, FAAS, and ISE. The fewest matrix effects were found with ICP/MS, followed by FAAS, and ISE. FAAS gave higher results in a variety of matrixes when compared to ICP/MS and/or ISE. ISE did not perform well in fatty foods or at very low Na concentrations. Manufacturers' Nutrition Facts Panel sodium declarations exceeded levels found by analysis in > 70% of the foods. Analysis of chloride content does not produce reliable Na estimates in low-sodium foods, even when added sodium chloride is present. Methodological issues and contamination sources are discussed.

Determination of furan levels in coffee using automated solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Furan is a 5-member ring chemical with high volatility. Because it is highly volatile, furan levels in foods are not easily determined with accuracy. In this study, an analytical method for furan analysis using an automated solid-phase microextraction system in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy is described. The performance of the method was demonstrated by the results obtained from a variety of coffees. Furan was detected at part-per-billion levels in coffee. The limit of detection was 0.3 ng/g and limit of quantitation, 0.8 ng/g. The percent recoveries were between 92 and 102.