LAUSR

Graphical abstract Figure. No Caption available. HighlightsThe 1H NMR was applied to qualitative and quantitative analyses of pediatric syrup.This approach allows identifying several added compounds.Some syrups presented both sugar and sweeteners, and high ethanol content.The governments must demand information of the amount of added compounds.Consumers must follow guidelines of amount of sugars and sweeteners intake. Abstract Several flavoring and sweetening agents added to excipient of pediatric syrups are not declared in the package leaflet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a non‐target, simple, and precise method for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of pediatric syrups using NMR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics. This approach allowed the identification of several added compounds as citric acid, cyclamate, ethanol, glycerol, propylene glycol, saccharin, sorbitol, fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Among the sugared syrups, sucrose was the main carbohydrate with approximately 59.1%, and for sweetened syrups, glycerol with 25.5%. The ethanol was found with highest concentration of 4.0%, approximately. In addition, some syrups presented both sugar and sweetener, which is inconsistent according to the purpose of the addition. Consequently, institutional structures of countries as Brazil that are in charge of public health should put additional compliance pressure on pharmaceutical companies to clearly declare in package leaflet the presence and exact amount of the main compounds (at least) existent in the pediatric excipients.