This Brief provides an overview of different analytical methods and
techniques for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of Maillard
Reactions and their reaction products in foods during processing and
storage. Reliable methodology for the investigation of Maillard
Reactions and their products are of utmost importance in food analysis:
since Maillard Reactions can on the one hand be desirable and
advantageous, influencing the colors, flavors and odors of food
products, they can on the other hand also produce detrimental compounds
afflicting the consumers' health (e.g. furfurals, furosine, or
acrylamide).
This Brief introduces different analytical methods, which can be used to
investigate and characterize Maillard Reactions and their products in
foods, including for example capillary electrophoresis, high performance
liquid chromatography, gas chromatography with mass spectrometric
detection, UV-VIS spectrophotometry, fluorescence, electronic nose,
gravimetric systems, and many more. The chapters exemplify how the
analytical techniques can be applied for assessing and evaluating
different Maillard Reaction products in foods. Readers will find basic
information, as well as practical hints and guidelines for application
in their own laboratory.