Trans Fatty Acid Contents in Chocolates and Chocolate Wafers in Turkey

Fatty acid compositions and trans fatty acid contents of chocolate and chocolate wafers collected from Turkish markets were determined by GC. Total 62 samples, being all chocolates and chocolate wafers sold in Turkey, were investigated. 35 samples of chocolate which were categorised as milk chocolate, bitter chocolate, chocolate with nuts, chocolate with pistachio, chocolate with almond, other chocolates, and 27 samples of chocolate wafer which were categorised as pure chocolate wafers and chocolate wafers with nuts belonging to 12 different national chocolate brands, were analysed. Generally, C16:0 palmitic acid, C18:0 stearic acid, and C18:1 oleic acid were the major fatty acids in all samples. Trans fatty acid contents in chocolate wafers samples showed a variation between 0.00-7.92%. Trans fatty acids were determined as 0.00-6.23% in chocolate samples. In conclusion, it was shown that trans fatty acids contents in chocolates were relatively lower than those of other countries.