Analysis of fats in foods

Why is important the fat and lipid analysis?

Answer explanation

- To include nutritional importance of some lipids in the label: omega 3, saturated fat, cholesterol, fat soluble vitamins.

- Fat content affect physical properties of foods: melting behaviors in chocolate, margarine, etc.

•Fat content affect stability of foods promoting rancidity, which causes bad smell, texture and appearance.

What is the refence method for total fat content in foods?

Answer explanation

Soxhlet extraction

Which technique allows individual identification of fatty acids in a sample?

Answer explanation

Gas chromatography

What does the degree of acidity of an oil indicate?

Answer explanation

The acid value iindicates the content of free fatty acids in the sample and therefore, this parameter is an important indicator of oxidation or rancid state of an oil

What does the Iodine value of an oil or fat indicate?

Answer explanation

The iodine value is an indicator of the degree of unsaturation in an oil or fat.

What does the Peroxide value of an oil indicate?

Answer explanation

•This parameter is the number of milli equivalents of active oxygen that expresses the amount of peroxide contained in 1000 g of fat.

•This parameter is an indicator of the process of oxidation induced by air at room temperature (autoxidation) of an oil or fat (oxidative rancidity).