Testing a method to measure brominated vegetable oil in drinks
What it found
A lab method was checked for measuring brominated vegetable oil in soft drinks and fizzy waters sold in South Korea.
The work was done on drink samples in the lab, not in people.
What they found
Colour test at 15 ppm
A simple colour-based method was studied at the maximum residue level of 15 ppm.
Ion chromatography recovery
For the ion chromatography analysis, recovery of brominated vegetable oil ranged from 97.8% to 107.2%, with relative standard deviations between 0.18% and 0.69%.
Measurement uncertainty
The expanded uncertainty for brominated vegetable oil was 1.59.
Identifying the compound
Brominated fatty acids were identified using gas chromatography electron ionization mass spectrometry.
What the authors conclude
“These results indicate that the validated method is appropriate for identifying of BVO and can be used to verify the safety of soft drinks or carbonated waters containing BVO residues.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the validated method is appropriate for identifying brominated vegetable oil.
- They say it can be used to verify the safety of soft drinks or carbonated waters containing brominated vegetable oil residues.
How it was done
The authors wanted a reliable way to check brominated vegetable oil levels in soft drinks and carbonated waters commonly consumed in South Korea.
They tested a colour-based method at the maximum residue level of 15 ppm, then validated an ion chromatography method and identified brominated fatty acids using gas chromatography electron ionization mass spectrometry. Measurement uncertainty was assessed and checked with a preliminary inter-laboratory study.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a lab method study on drink samples. It did not test health effects in people or animals.
- It shows the method can measure and identify brominated vegetable oil, not whether the levels found affect health.
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 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error