DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS 1723  
First Edition  
2017 -mm-dd 
  
 
 Reference number  
DUS 1723: 2017  
© UNBS 2017   
  
Sucralose  — Specification  
 DUS 1723 : 2017  
ii © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNB S 2017  
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permission from UNBS.  
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The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
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Uganda  
Tel: +256 414 333 250/1/2/3  
Fax: +256 414 286 123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  DUS 1723:2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
Introduction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  1 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4.2 Infrared Absorption  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  1 
5 Contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
6 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  2 
7 Weights and Measures ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  2 
8 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  2 
9 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  2 
Annex  A (normative)  Infrared spectrum of Sucralose  ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
Annex  B  (normative)   Determination of chlorinated disaccharides  ................................ ............................  4 
Annex  C (normative)  Test for chlorinated monosaccharides  ................................ ................................ ....... 5 
Annex  D (normative)  Assay of sucralose  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 6 
Annex  E (normative)  Determination of sulphated ash  ................................ ................................ ..................  7 
Annex  F (normative)  Test for triphenylphosphine oxide  ................................ ................................ ..............  8 
Annex  G (normative)  Test for methanol  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  9 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  11 
 DUS 1723 : 2017  
iv © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade , Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda , as amended .  UNBS is mandated to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TB T Agreement  of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of key stakeholders  
including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the c omments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
The committ ee responsible for this standard  is Technical Committee UNBS  TC2, [Technical Committee on 
Food and Agricultural Standards ], Subcommittee SC 6, [Subcommittee  on Food Additives & Contaminants].  DUS 1723:2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  v 
 Introduction  
Sucralose , (1,6-Dichloro -1,6-dideoxy -β-D-fructofuranosyl -4-chloro -4-deoxy -alpha -D-galactopyranoside ) is a 
non-caloric  artificial s weetener,  approximately 65 0 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), twice as sweet 
as saccharin, and four times as sweet as aspartame. It has an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 15 mg/kg body 
weight.  
Its consumption has increased as result of the growing trends to consume low ca lorie foods  with less  impact 
on blood glucose than sucrose.  It also  has no effect on tooth decay and is commonly found in oral heal th 
products . It possesses  the following sweetener characteristics: noncaloric, insipid and stability  at high 
temperatures and  in acidic medium . Its characteristics are preserved, even during pasteurisation, sterilisation 
and cooking at high temperatures. In addition, it cannot be hydrolysed  during digestion or metabolism due to  
the high  stability of its carbon -chlorine bonds  and it does not interact chemically with other foods .  
Sucralose -based products are found in a broad range of lower -calorie foods , including , fizzy drinks, chewing 
gum, baking mixes, break fast cereals  and salad dressings.  
Several research studies have demonstrated the product’s safety but t o ensure its quality and appropriate 
use, it is necessary to have quality control specifications. This standard  has therefore been formulated to 
provide the necessary gui delines to manufacturers , traders  and consumers  of sucralose and sucralose -based 
products  and, for purposes of conformity assessment . DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  DUS 1723: 2017  
 
© UNBS 2017 – All rights  reserved  1 
 Sucralose  — Specification  
1 Scope  
This Working Draft Uganda S tandard specifies requirements, methods of sampling and test for food grade 
sucralose . 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all their content 
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated 
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
AOAC 972.25 , Lead in food. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric method  
AOAC 973.34, Cadmium in food by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)  
US 277, General standard fo r the labelling of food additives when sold as such  
US CAC/GL 50 – General guidelines on sampling  
The Weights and Measures (Sales and Labelling of goods) Rules, 2007  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.   
food grade material  
a material, made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use and which will not impart 
any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flav our to the product.  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General  requirements  
Sucralose shall be presented as a white to off -white, practically  odourless crystalline powder.  It shall be f reely 
soluble in  water, methanol and ethanol, and  slightly soluble in ethyl acetate . 
4.2 Infrared Absorption  
The infrared spectrum of a potassium bromide  dispersion of a sucralose  sample shall correspond  with the 
reference  infrared spectrum in Annex A.  
 
  
2 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 4.3 Thin Layer Chromatography  
The main spot in the test solution shall have the same retardation factor ( Rf) as that of the main spot of 
Standard Solution A obtained in the test for other chlorinated disaccharides (see Annex B) when tested using 
thin layer chromatography.  
4.3 Specific requirements  
When tested in accordance with the specif ied or annexed methods, sucralose shall conform to the 
requirements in Table 1.  
Table 1 — Requirements for Sucralose  
S/N Parameter  Requirement  Method of test  
i Assay (p urity), percent  by mass  (dry basis ) 98 – 102 Annex D 
ii Water, percent by mass, Max 2 Karl Fischer method  
iii Sulphated ash, percent by mass, Max 0.7 Annex E 
iv Triphenylphosphine oxide, mg/kg, Max 150 Annex F 
v Methanol, percent by mass, Max 0.1 Annex G 
vi Chlorinated disaccharides  To pass  Annex B  
vii Chlorinated monosaccharides  To pass  Annex C 
 
5 Contaminants  
When tested following  AOAC 972.25,  the heavy metal contamination expressed as Lead (Pb) shall not exceed 
1 mg/kg.   
6 Packaging  
The product shall be securely packaged in food grade containers with no contact to the external env ironment . 
The containers shall be able  to preclude contamination of the contents with metals or other impurities.  
7 Weights and Measures  
The weight of the package s shall comply with the  Weights and Measures (Sales and Labelling of goods) 
Rules, 2007 . 
8 Labelling  
The products shall be labelled in accordance with US 277.  
9 Sampling  
Representative samples of the product shall be drawn in accordance with US CAC/GL 50.  US 1723: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  3 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Infrared spectrum of Sucralose  
 
Fig.1 — Reference Infrared spectrum of a p otassium bromide dispersion of  sucralose  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
4 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  B  
(normative )  
 
Determination of chlorinated disaccharides  
B-1 REQUIREMENTS  
- TLC Plates  — Reverse phase thin  layer  chromatography plates coated with 0.2 mm layer of  silica gel 
absorbent (for example, Whatman LKC 18). 
B-2 REAGENTS  
- Mobile phase  — Mix 7 volumes of a 5 .0% w/v aqueous solution of sodium chloride and 3 volumes  of 
acetonitrile.  
- Spray r eagent  — Use 15%  v/v solution  of concentrated s ulphuric acid in methanol.  
- Standard s olutions  — Dissolve 1.0 g of  sucralose reference standard in 10 ml of methanol  (Solution 
A). Dilute 0.5 ml of Solution A with methanol  to 100 ml (Solution B).  
- Test s olution  — Dissolve 1.0 g of sample in 10 ml of methano l. 
B-3 PROCEDURE  
Apply 5 μl each of solution A, s olution B and test solution to the bottom of the chromatographic plate. Place 
the plate in a suitable chromatography chamber containing freshly prepared mobile phase and allow the 
solvent front to ascend 15 cm. Remove the plate from the chamber, allow it t o dry and spray with spray 
reagent. Heat the plate in an oven at 125 °C for 10 min.  
The sample is said to have passed the test when the  main spot in the test solution has the same Rf value  as 
the main in s olution A and no other spot in the test solution i s more intens e than the 0.5 percent spot in 
solution B.  
 
 
 US 1723: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  5 
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Test for chlorinated monosaccharides  
C-1 REQUIREMENTS  
- TLC p lates  — Thin layer chromatography plates coated with 0.25 mm thickn ess of silica gel 60 or 
equivalent.  
C-2 REAGENTS  
- Spray r eagent  — Dissolve 1.23 g p -anisidine and 1.66 g phthalic acid in 100 ml methanol. Store the 
solution in darkness and refrigerate to prevent it from becoming decolourised. Discard if solution 
becomes d iscoloured.  
NOTE — p-anisidine is toxic by skin absorption and inhalation and should be used with due caution.  
- Standard s olution A  — Dissolve 10.0 ± 0.001g of mannitol  in 40 ml of  distilled water in  a 100 ml 
volumetric flask . Dilute to  volume  using the  water.  
- Standard s olution B  — Dissolve 10 g of  manni tol and 40 mg of fructose (Analytical  grade) in 25 ml  of 
water in a 100 ml volumetric flask and make up to  volume  with the water.  
- Sample s olution  — Dissolve 2.5 g of sample in 5 ml of methanol in a 10 ml volumetric flask and 
make up to volume with methanol.  
C-3 PROCEDURE  
Spot 5 μl of each of standard solutions A and B onto the TLC plate , applying the solution slowly in 1 μl aliquots 
and allowing th e plate to dry between applications. Spot 5 μl of the sample solution onto the plate in a similar 
manner. The three spots should be of similar size. Spray the plate with the s pray reagent and heat at 100 ± 2  
°C for 15 min utes. Immediately after heating, vi ew the plate against a dark background.  
The sample shall have passed the test when t he spot from the sample s olution is not more coloured than the 
spot from solution B (equivalent to a limit of 0.1% maximum total chlorinated monosaccharides).  
Darke ning of the mannitol spot from standard s olution A indicates that the plate has been held too long in the 
oven, and a s econd plate should be prepared.  
 
  
6 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  D 
(normative)  
 
Assay of sucralose  
D-1 CHROMATOGRAPHI C SYSTEM  
Fit a high -pressure liquid chromatograph, operated at room temperature, with a radial compression module 
containing a 10 cm 5 μm C 18 reverse phase column. The mobile phase is maintained at a pressure and flow  
rate (typically 1.5 ml/min) capable of  giving the  required elution time (see D -5). An ultraviolet detector  that 
monitors absorption at 190 nm, or a refractive index  detector is used.  
D-2 MOBILE PHASE  
Add 150 ml of ac etonitrile (HPLC grade, far UV, filtered through a 0.45 μm millipore filter or  equivalent)  to 850 
ml of water (glass distilled, filtered through a  0.45 μm millipore filter or equivalent). Mix and degas  thoroughly.  
D-3 STANDARD SOLUTION  
Weigh accurately abou t 250 mg of sucralose reference standard into a 25 ml volumetric flask. Dissolve and  
make up to volume using the mobile phase. Filter the  solution through a 0.45 μm millipore filter or equivalent. 
Record the weight of reference standard as W s. 
D-4 TEST SOLUTION  
Weigh accurately about 250 mg of sample into a 25 ml volumetric fl ask. Dissolve and make up to volume 
using the mobile phase. Filter the solution through a 0.45 μm millipore filter or equivalent. Record the weight 
of sample as W t. 
D-5 SYSTEM SUITABILITY TEST  
Inject duplicate 20 μl portions of standard solution into the c hromatograph. The retention time of the sucralose 
should be approximately 9 min. The co -efficient of variation (100 x standard deviation divided by mean peak 
area) for the peak areas should not exceed 2 percent.  
NOTE — The retention time quoted is appropri ate for a 10 cm 5 μm Rad -Pak C 18 column. If a column of a different make 
or length is used it may be necessary to adjust the proportion of acetonitrile in the eluent to obtain the required retention  
time.  
D-6 PROCEDURE  
Analyse the test solution under the c onditions descri bed above, making duplicate 20 μl injections, and 
calculate  the mean peak area. Calculate the percentage purity  from the relative peak areas of the test (A t) and 
standard  solutions (A s) per the following formula:  
Purity, percent =
100 x  x  x 
t ss t
W AW A  
Calculate the percentage purity on a water -free and methanol -free basis using the values obtained in the tests 
for water and methanol.  US 1723: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  7 
 Annex  E 
(normative)  
 
Determination of sulphated ash  
E-1 REAGENT  
- Concentrated sulphuric acid (A.R. grade)  
E-2 PROCEDURE  
Weigh accurately about 2 g of product in a tared crucible. Ignite, gently at first, until the material is thoroughly 
charred, cool, moisten the residue with 1 ml of sulphuric acid and ignite ge ntly till the carbon is completely 
consumed. Cool the crucible in a desiccator and weigh.  
NOTE — Carry out the ignition in a place protected from air  currents and use as low a temperature as 
possible to effect the combustion of carbon.  
E-3 CALCULATION  
Sulphated ash, percent by mass = 
21
WW X 100  
where,  
W1 = mass in grams of the residue ; and  
W2 = mass in grams of the product tested. 
 
  
8 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  F 
(normative)  
 
Test for triphenylphosphine oxide  
F-1 APPARATUS  
Chromatographic s ystem  — Typically a high -pressure liquid chromatograph, operated at room temperature, 
is fitted with a radial compression module containing a 5 μm C 18 Rad-Pak reverse phase column (10 cm x  8 
mm). The mobile phase is maintained a t a pressure and flow rate (typically 1.5 ml/min) capable of giving the 
required elution time. The chromatograph is equipped with a UV detector (220 nm).  
F-2 REAGENTS  
F-2.1 Mobile p hase  — Add 67 volumes of acetonitrile (HPLC grade, far UV, filtered through a 0.45 μm 
millipore filter or equivalent) to 33 volumes of water (glass distilled, filtered through a 0.45 μm millipore filter or 
equivalent). Mix and de -gas thoroughly.  
F-2.2 Standard  solution  — Weigh accurately 100 mg of triphenylphosphine oxide into a 10 ml volumetric 
flask. Dissolve and make up to volume using the mobile phase. Take 1.0 ml of the resulting solution and make 
up to 100 ml with mobile phase. From this solution, prepare  a further 100 -fold dilution with mobile phase and 
use this as the standard solution. Filter through a 0.45 μm millipore filter or equivalent.  
F-2.3 Test s olution  — Weigh accurately 100 mg of sample into a 10 ml volumetric flask. Dissolve and make 
up to vo lume with mobile phase. Filter through a 0.45 μm millipore filter or equivalent. Record the weight of 
sample as Wt mg. 
F-3 PROCEDURE  
Inject duplicate 25 μl portions of the standard and test solutions into the chromatograph. Under the conditions 
stated above the retention time for triphenylphosphine oxide is 6 min. Record the mean peak areas for the 
standard and test solutions as As and At respectively.  
F-4 CALCULATION  
Calculate the concentration of triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) in the sample from the following formula:  
TPPO (mg/kg ) =
t st
W AA 10000 x . US 1723: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  9 
 Annex  G 
(normative)  
 
Test for methanol  
G-1 APPARATUS  
Use a suitable gas chromatograph equipped with a hydrogen flame ionization detector containing a 2.1 m x 
4.0 mm (id) glass column packed with Porapak PS 80 -100 mesh or equivalent materials.  
G-2 OPERATING CONDITIONS  
The operating cond itions may vary depending upon the particular instrument used but a suitable 
chromatogram may be obtained by using the following conditions:  
a) Column temperature: 150 °C (isothermal)  
b) Inlet temperature: 200 °C  
c) Detector temperature: 250 °C  
d) Carrier gas nitrogen : 20 ml/min  
G-3 REAGENTS  
G-3.1 Standard s olutio n — Using a 2.0 -ml class A  volumetric pipette, pipette 2.0 ml of methanol into a 100 
ml volumetric flask, dilute to volume with pyridine, and mix. Transfer 1.0 ml of this solution to a 100 ml 
volumetric flask,  dilute to volume with pyridine, and mix.  
G-3.2 Sample s olution  — Weigh accurately about 2 g of the sample into a 10 -ml volumetric flask, dilute to 
volume with pyridine, and mix.  
G-4 PROCEDURE  
Inject a 1 μl portion of the standard solution onto a gas chrom atography column, obtain the chromatogram, 
and measure the area of the peak produced. The relative standard deviation for replicate injections is not 
more than 2.0 percent. Calculate the mean peak areas for the standard solution. Similarly, inject a 1 μl p ortion 
of the sample solution into the gas chromatograph, and measure the areas of the peaks produced by 
methanol. Calculate the mean  peak areas, and determine the methanol concentration using the following 
formula:  
Methanol, percent = 
S SS S A
W AC V S
 x  x x  
where  
 SA = sample area;  
 CS = percentage concentration of methanol in the standard (volume of methanol x dilution factor x  
                 density of solvent equals 2 x 10–4 x 0.79 x 100);  
VS = volume of the sample solution;  
AS = standard area; and   
10 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 WS = mass in grams of the sample.  US 1723: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  11 
 Bibliography  
[1] IS 15969 : 2013 , Sucralose, food grade — Specification   
[2] JECFA (1993), Sucralose   WDUS 1723 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017 – All rights  reserved  13 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda  standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only  by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goo ds comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for confor mity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 WDUS 1723: 2017    
 
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