Technical communications

Bitter almond oil (benzaldehyde), a flavoring compound used in many foods, was isolated from apricot kernels; 2 synthetic benzaldehyde samples were obtained from commercial sources. All samples were analyzed for radiocarbon (14C) content. The natural sample yielded a value consistent with its natural origin (approximately 116% of Modern Standard Activity), while the synthetic samples were devoid of 14C activity as expected for a petrochemical material. Implications for quality control of bitter almond oil are discussed