SUMMARYAn improved method for measuring sorbic acid in cider is based on dilution of the sample and direct ultraviolet readings at 262 mμ This method was compared with the distillation method for sorbic acid usually applied to cider. The latter method produced ultraviolet‐absorbant materials that interfered with sorbic acid determinations and were shown to he affected by the sugar content of the cider and the distillation techniques. The ultraviolet‐interfering materials in cider distillates have absorption peaks and chemical properties similar to those of 5‐hydroxymethylfu