Analytical difficulties for determination of acesulfame K in chocolate products

Sweeteners are substances used as a dietary supplement to replace sugar. Consumers are concerned about the high levels of sugar, calories and cariogenicity in confectionery products, which is why the popularity of the so-called. „Light“ products and „sugar-free“ products. Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar. In the present work, an analysis of acesulfame K in cocoa and chocolate products was performed. For the determination of sweeteners acesulfame K, saccharin and aspartame in foodstuffs, a standardized reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection was used. A cocoa matrix-specific compound was observed in all chocolate products analyzed for acesulfame K. Interference did not correspond to acesulfame K on the UV spectrum and could not be removed by two-step purification. The comparison of the spectral characteristics allowed to avoid a misleading result for the presence of acesulfame K in chocolate and cocoa products