Trace detection of potassium ferrocyanide in table salt

Potassium ferrocyanide (KFC) is an anti-caking compound added to table salt. Although KFC is a common non-toxic food additive, its spectroscopic response is representative of analogous cyanide compounds. Trace detection of other cyanides in food products is essential to the safety of consumers, as they can be toxic at oral consumption levels as low as 20 μg g^–1. This application demonstrates rapid trace analysis of potassium ferrocyanide in table salt with Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer), in a simple assay format with minimal use of laboratory reagents. Federal guidelines state that KFC levels may not exceed 13 μg g^–1 as an additive to table salt.