Sunflower oil is subject to mandatory laboratory quality and safety control in accordance with the standards in force in Ukraine, in particular DSTU 4492:2017 Sunflower oil. Technical conditions.

The main indicators, which are determined during the laboratory analysis of sunflower oil:

  • Organoleptic indicators:
    • Transparency (the presence of sediment).
    • Taste and smell (absence of extraneous tastes and smells).
    • Color number (color intensity).
  • Physico-chemical parameters:
    • Acid number (indicator of freshness and degree of hydrolysis of fats).
    • Peroxide number (index of fat oxidation).
    • Mass fraction of moisture and volatile substances.
    • The mass fraction of non-fat impurities.
    • Mass fraction of phosphorus-containing substances (phospholipid content).
    • Iodine number (degree of unsaturation of fatty acids).
    • Anisidine number (indicator of secondary oxidation products, for refined oils).
    • The content of wax and wax-like substances (for unrefined oils).
    • Degree of transparency (pheometers).
  • Safety indicators:
    • The content of toxic elements (Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury).
    • The content of mycotoxins (aflatoxins, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, etc.).
    • Pesticide residues.
    • Content of radionuclides (cesium-137, strontium-90).
    • The presence of GMOs (if necessary).
    • Benz(а)pyrene.
    • Dioxins and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).

Methods of laboratory analysis:

Various methods are used to determine these indicators, regulated by state standards and other regulatory documents. Among them:

  • Organoleptic analysis: Color evaluation, smell and taste with the help of senses.
  • Titrimetric methods: To determine acid and peroxide numbers.
  • Spectrophotometric methods: To determine the color number, anisidine number.
  • Gravimetric methods: To determine the mass fraction of moisture and non-fat impurities.
  • Extraction methods: To determine the mass fraction of fat and phosphorus-containing substances.
  • Gas chromatography: To determine the fatty acid composition, Pesticide residues, mineral oils.
  • High pressure liquid chromatography (TOP): To determine mycotoxins, Benz(а)pyrene.
  • Atomic absorption spectrometry: To determine heavy metals.
  • Radiometric methods: To determine the content of radionuclides.
  • Enzyme immunoassay (IFA) and PCR: To detect GMOs.

The results of laboratory studies are the basis for assessing the quality and safety of sunflower oil, its compliance with established standards and suitability for consumption.