This review deünes the range of forms in which cinnamates (p-coumarates, caþ eates, ferulates and sinapates) occur in foods and beverages subdividing them into (i) the classic chlorogenic acids and close allies, (ii) other esters, amides and glycosides, and (iii) transformation products formed during processing. Cinnamate derivatives which would not release cinnamic acid by hydrolysis are excluded. The quantitative data are reviewed concisely and attention is drawn to certain shortcomings, in particular a complete absence of data for certain commodities (breakfast cereals, baked goods, tomato products and nuts) and minimal data for pulses, legumes and processed or cooked foods. In addition, more data are required for the edible portion of modern varieties. By extrapolating from such data as are available the important source(s) (i) of individual cinnamates (regardless of the conjugate type) and (ii) of each major class of conjugate, have been identiüed as follows : (i) Cinnamates : caþ eic acid : coþ ee beverage, blueberries, apples, ciders ; p-coumaric acid : spinach, sugar beet übre, cereal brans ; ferulic acid : coþ ee beverage, citrus juices, sugar beet übre, cereal brans ; sinapic acid : broccoli, kale, other leafy brassicas, citrus juices. (ii) Conjugates : caþ eoylquinic acids : coþ ee beverage, blueberries, apples, ciders ; pcoumaroylquinic acids : sweet cherries ; feruloylquinic acids : coþ ee beverage ; tartaric conjugates : spinach, lettuce, grapes and wines ; malic conjugates : lettuce, spinach, possibly legumes ; rosmarinic acid : culinary herbs, mixed herbs, possibly stuffings ; cell wall conjugates : spinach, sugar beet übre, cereal brans.
It seems likely that the UK population will fall into several categories depending on (i) their consumption of coþ ee, (ii) their consumption of bran, and (iii) their consumption of citrus. Those who drink several cups of coþ ee per day augmented by bran and citrus might easily ingest 500-800 mg cinnamates (or even 1 g for the greatest coþ ee ingest consumption) whereas those who eschew all these and take little fresh fruit or vegetables might struggle to consume 25 mg.