Maleic acid findings in Asian food caused the recall of many starch-containing food products in Asia.
Evidence of maleic acid in Asian foodstuffs led to the recall of many starchy foods as long-term consumption of maleic acid can cause kidney problems. Cyclic kojic acid is however approved in Asia, both as a bleaching additive in foodstuffs and as a preservative in cosmetics. This IC Application Note describes their simultaneous determination in a single analysis.
In the method developed by Metrohm, maleic and kojic acid are determined in starch applying UV/VIS detection after ion-exclusion chromatography. Download IC Application Note O–041 from the link provided below for the full description, free of charge.