How Are Fat Contents Determined in Foods?
Methods for Calculating Fat Content There are several different ways to measure the fat content in foods. They all involve somehow isolating and extracting the fat from a sample of the food, and comparing that food’s weight with and without the fat content. Infrared Spectrometry A solvent is added to the food that extracts the fat using an internal standard. The extraction is then scanned using infrared light to discern how much fat there is and how much internal standard there is. The ratio of fat to internal standard is calculated and and the fat content is derived, according to freepatentsonline.com. Caviezel Method In this method, the food sample and an internal standard are added to an alcohol solvent. Then the fats are extracted using potassium hydroxide. Another solution is added that separates the sample into two parts, with the internal standard and fats on the top. This is removed and placed into a specialized machine, which calculates the fat content. Simplified Gravimetric
