The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, and cholesterol in the detection of adulterated milk fat. The fatty acid, triacylglycerol, and cholesterol profiles of the mixtures of milk and non-milk fat (adulteration ratios of 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90%) were analyzed by gas chromatography. The results showed that concentrations of the fatty acids with oleic acid (C18:1n9c) and linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), triglycerides with C52 and C54, and cholesterol detected are proportional to the adulteration ratios remarkably. Oleic acid (C18:1n9c), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), C52, and C54 were lower in pure milk fat than in adulterated mixtures. In contrast, pure milk has a higher cholesterol concentration than all adulterated mixtures (adulteration concentration in the range 10-90%). Thus, we suggest that oleic acid (C18:1n9c), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), C52, C54, and cholesterol are suitable indicators and can be used as biomarkers to rapidly detect adulterated milk fat by gas chromatography. This study is expected to provide basic data for adulteration and material usage. Moreover, this new approach can detect the presence of foreign oils and fats in the milk fat of cheese and can find application in related studies.
Keywords: adulteration; cheese; foreign fat; gas chromatography; milk fat.