Simultaneous determination of diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, coumarin and caffeine in food items by gas chromatography

► A simple gas chromatography-flame ionisation method was developed. ► Simultaneous determination of diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and coumarin. ► Excellent separation in 23 min with capillary ATTM-AQUAWAX column. ► No additives studied were found in the samples analysed.