Control of nutritional labels in beverages with added vitamins: screening of β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents

Simple, rapid and inexpensive methods were used for the determination of β-carotene and ascorbic acid, while checking recovery and precision with samples, and calibration data and detection levels with standards. These methods involved direct injection of the beverage into an HPLC with an UV-Visible detector. The results obtained with 13 beverages, with different β-carotene and ascorbic acid levels added, did not show good agreement between the vitamin levels on the labels and the levels determined. Found levels, in virtually all drinks, were much higher than those stated on the nutritional label.