Testing a method to measure brominated vegetable oil in drinks
What it found
Researchers checked a lab method for measuring brominated vegetable oil in soft drinks and fizzy waters from South Korea.
The method recovered between 97.8% and 107.2% of the ingredient in tests.
What they found
Recovery in lab tests
When testing drinks in the lab, the method recovered between 97.8% and 107.2% of the brominated vegetable oil added. Variation between repeated tests was very small, between 0.18% and 0.69%.
Measurement uncertainty
The expanded uncertainty for measuring brominated vegetable oil with this method was 1.59. Early checks across different labs supported this figure.
Screening at 15 ppm
A simple colour test worked as a first screen for brominated vegetable oil at a maximum residue level of 15 ppm.
What the authors conclude
- They say the tested method works well for finding brominated vegetable oil in drinks.
- The authors suggest it can be used to check soft drinks and fizzy waters for residues of this ingredient.
How it was done
The authors wanted a reliable way to check how much brominated vegetable oil is in drinks people buy in South Korea.
They tested a colour-based screening method at a level of 15 ppm. They also checked a lab technique called ion chromatography, confirmed by another method using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Multiple labs took part in early checks.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work only tested lab methods for measuring an ingredient in drinks. It did not look at any health effects in people or animals.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Kangwon National University, South Korea; Life Science R&D Center, South Korea; National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, South Korea
The paper
- Title
- Identifying method validation and measurement uncertainty of brominated vegetable oil in soft drinks and carbonated waters commonly consumed in South Korea
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Kim JM, Choi SH, Choi SI, et al (2018). Identifying method validation and measurement uncertainty of brominated vegetable oil in soft drinks and carbonated waters commonly consumed in South Korea. Food chemistry. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.11.047PubMed 29291856DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error