A sulphuric acid-impregnated silica gel clean-up procedure for the determination of n-alkanes migration from paraffin based paper packaging into cheddar cheese

► Two clean-up procedures for n-alkanes in fatty samples have been evaluated. ► Sulphuric acid-impregnated silica gel is proposed for removing fatty acids (fat matter). ► It is a procedure with high throughput and it does not affect alkanes in fatty food samples. ► n-Alkanes migration from paraffin coated paper into cheddar cheese remains in the first 2-3 mm of the cheese.