The amount of methylxanthines (i.e. caffeine, theobromine) in food products continues to be of interest to the public. To provide
such data, an improved analytical method for their determination in cocoa-based food products was developed. An aqueous
extraction followed by analysis using the method of known additions was found to give a higher degree of accuracy and precision in
comparison with the method accepted by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists International. This improved analytical
method will allow for the collection of reliable methylxanthine concentration data that can be used to update food composition
databases as well as by consumers and health care professionals