An efficient and accurate analytical method for the simultaneous
determination of 13 permitted in EU market food colorants
in a single run by liquid chromatography-diode array detection
was developed and optimized. The proposed method includes
a simple pretreatment procedure for the extraction of colorants
from food and offers a combination of sensitivity and selectivity,
simplicity and relatively short time of analysis. This method
permits the detection of colorants at very low concentrations
(g kg−1 range). The applicability was verified by the determination
of colorants present in various water-soluble foodstuffs.