title: Benzaldehyde in cherry flavour as a precursor of benzene formation in beverages.
abstract: During sampling and analysis of alcohol-free beverages for food control purposes, a comparably high contamination of benzene (up to 4.6μg/L) has been detected in cherry-flavoured products, even when they were not preserved using benzoic acid (which is a known precursor of benzene formation). There has been some speculation in the literature that formation may occur from benzaldehyde, which is contained in natural and artificial cherry flavours. In this study, model experiments were able to confirm that benzaldehyde does indeed degrade to benzene under heating conditions, and especially in the presence of ascorbic acid. Analysis of a large collective of authentic beverages from the market (n=170) further confirmed that benzene content is significantly correlated to the presence of benzaldehyde (r=0.61, p<0.0001). In the case of cherry flavoured beverages, industrial best practices should include monitoring for benzene. Formulations containing either benzoic acid or benzaldehyde in combination with ascorbic acid should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany; University of Applied Sciences Bingen, Berlinstrasse 109, D-55411 Bingen, Germany. Electronic address: christine_loch@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loch
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: helmut.reusch@cvuaka.bwl.de.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reusch
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: Ingrid.ruge@cvuaka.bwl.de.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruge
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: rolf.godelmann@cvuaka.bwl.de.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Godelmann
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: tabea.pflaum@cvuaka.bwl.de.
authors.forename: Tabea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pflaum
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: Thomas.kuballa@cvuaka.bwl.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuballa
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: Sandra.schumacher@cvuaka.bwl.de.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: Lachenmeier@web.de.
authors.forename: Dirk W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lachenmeier
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000737:chemistry*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis*; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D006358:Hot Temperature
chemical_list: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D001554:Benzene; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C032175:benzaldehyde
keywords: Ascorbic Acid (PubChem CID: 54670067); Benzaldehyde; Benzaldehyde (PubChem CID: 240); Benzene; Benzene (PubChem CID: 241); Benzoic acid (PubChem CID: 243); Beverages; Cherry; Food contamination