Philippine Journal of Science
151 (4): 1301-1311, August 2022
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 01 Dec 2021

Proposed Physicochemical Standards
for the Identity and Quality Characteristics
of Philippine Virgin Coconut Oil

Fabian M. Dayrit*, Grace B. Tantengco, and Philip Gabriel M. Opao

Department of Chemistry, Ateneo de Manila University,
Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108 Philippines

*Corresponding author: fdayrit@ateneo.edu

[Download]
Dayrit F et al. 2022. Proposed Physicochemical Standards for the Identity and Quality Characteristics
of Philippine Virgin Coconut Oil. Philipp J Sci 151(4): 1301–1311. https://doi.org/10.56899/151.04.01

 

ABSTRACT

The growth of the virgin coconut oil (VCO) industry over the past few years has highlighted the need to improve VCO standards to promote better quality and detect adulteration. The Philippine National Standard for VCO (PNS/BAFPS 22:2007) has three groups of parameters – identity characteristics, quality characteristics, and contaminant limits. It has only one identity characteristic – the % fatty acid composition, which is based mainly on Codex Stan 210-1999. However, because the fatty acid composition does not distinguish VCO from refined, bleached, and deodorized coconut oil (RBDCO), additional methods are needed to differentiate VCO and RBDCO and to detect adulteration. This study proposes a new spectrophotometric measurement at 278 nm, which can accomplish both objectives. Regarding VCO quality characteristics, PNS/ BAFPS 22:2007 states that VCO should be colorless and sediment-free. However, some VCO products may have light yellow color due to the method of production, and sedimentation naturally occurs below the freezing point of VCO, which is 25 °C. New methods are proposed to address the concerns of color and sediment. Because the Codex methods are optimized for vegetable oils with long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, some methods need to be adjusted for the analysis of VCO, which is composed mainly of saturated medium-chain fatty acids. These standards and methods can be adopted by regulatory agencies and guide the industry to ensure quality VCO.