Screening Foods and Beverages for Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) Using Automated Headspace–Trap GC–MS

This study shows that headspace samples acquired on the new Centri® automated multimode sampling and concentration system for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) can be used to screen food and beverages for trace-level additives. A breakfast cereal and a tea infusion were investigated, and the antioxidant BHT detected in both samples at the ng/g level, along with a range of aroma compounds.