Multivariate characterization of the fatty acid profile of spanish cookies and bakery products

The fatty acid compositions of 39 brands of cookies and bakery products were analyzed with special attention to the their trans-fatty acid content. The average contents (percent w/w of the total fatty acids detected) for the different nutritional fractions were as follows: saturated fatty acids (SFA), 49.43% (SD = 17.04); monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 32.87% (SD = 10.94); polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 12.48% (SD = 11.29); and trans-fatty acids (TFA), 5.20% (SD = 9.30), the mean fat content being 22.7% (SD = 7.4). C18:1t was the predominant trans isomer found in all of the analyzed samples (mean = 4.04, SD = 8.46). Factor analysis performed on the fatty acid profile allowed a meaningful classification of the samples according to the main source of fat employed in their elaboration. Four factors that explained 75% of the total variance were retained. According to the results obtained, the fat used to elaborate the samples was mainly composed of vegetable and animal fat, and only in a few samples were partially hydrogenated vegetable oils used as the main source of fat.