New electroanalytical method for the determination of trans-anethole in spices and sweets

•Significant improvement in voltammetric determination of trans–anethole in foodstuffs.•Rapid, simple, and undemanding electroanalytical procedure.•One–step sample preparation due to utilization of nonaqueous carbon paste electrode.•Comparable results with reversed–phase high–performance liquid chromatography.•Detailed description of trans–anethole electrochemical reaction mechanism.