This European standard describes a method for the determination of BADGE, BFDGE and their
reaction products in food simulants: distilled water, 3 % w/v aqueous acetic acid, 10 % v/v aqueous
ethanol solution and olive oil or sunflower oil.
A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is employed based on reversed phase
HPLC and fluorescence detection.
The method is capable of determining BADGE and its derivatives at a minimum level of 0,05 µg/ml
food simulant.
BFDGE and its derivatives can be determined at a minimum level of 0,1 µg/ml food simulant.
Direct HPLC analysis of the migration solutions may result in chromatograms difficult to interpret, due
to interference from other components or the instability of the monomers resulting in a complex
mixture of derivatives and/or reaction products. By forced hydrolysis of all epoxy groups and their
reaction products, the quantification of the relevant substances is simplified and in addition the
identities of the substances are indicatively confirmed.
NOTE In this European standard the term “BADGE, BFDGE and their derivatives” refers to the substances listed in Directive 2002/16/EC [1] and its amendment, Directive 2004/13/EC [2]. These substances are listed in 4.1.