Abstract: Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is a common food additive used to whiten wheat flour and strengthen the elasticity of wheat flour dough. ADA is not stable in hydrothermal environment, readily converted into biurea (BIU) and semicarbazide (SEM). SEM is a metabolite of the veterinary drug nitrofurazone, which has strong carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effects. Direct and indirect methods are currently available for the determination of ADA in wheat flour and its products. ADA can be determined directly or indirectly by determining BIU and SEM. This article reviews the development of the methods for ADA detection in wheat flour and its products, analyzes the problems with the current ADA detection standards in China, and discusses future trends, with the aim of providing a reference for the research and practice of ADA detection.

Key words: wheat flour and its products; azodicarbonamide; biurea; semicarbazide; determination