TC23 - Metrology in Food and Nutrition - Aims

Objectives of TC23

F&N metrology is an emerging discipline that is helpful in strengthening the reliability of analytical data, and integration of metrological concepts into the measurement process is the need of the hour. This step is necessary also to ensure sustainability of the analytical QA process. These tasks are looked upon as a twin assignment under TC23:

  • enhancing the reliability of F&N measurements by introducing metrological concepts, and
  • strengthening the metrological capability of the professional pool (capacity building for young investigators),  since the academic systems in the F&N areas generally do not provide for adequate training that includes teaching metrology.

The TC23 focuses on addressing a variety of metrological issues connected with food and nutritional measurements, e.g. food safety assays and relevant  inorganic chemical metrology aspects.

Fundamental Aspects

  • Speciation Measurements
  • New Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Isotopic Composition and Measurements
  • Method Dependent Measurements
  • Measurements of organic contaminants and toxins, specially at residue level
  • Metabolomics
  • Measurements of trace elements
  • Food Labelling and Food Authenticity
  • Characterization of agroecosystems
  • Bioavailability of toxic substances in soil
  • Determination of traceability markers and quality markers
  • Measurement of bioactive compounds , nutraceuticals and other chemical components
  • Measurement of organoleptic properties
  • Measurements of radionuclide contamination
  • Food consumption and exposure assessment

Traceability and Dissemination

  • Traceability Chain
  • Calibration Procedures
  • Reference Materials
  • Tools to Support Accreditation
  • Measurement Uncertainty
  • Regulations
  • Proficiency Tests

Instrumentation and Methods

  • LC/MS to measure vitamins
  • LC/ICP-MS to measure Vitamin B12
  • Chromatographic methods to measure Dietary Fibre
  • Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy and Laman Spectroscopy
  • GLC to measure Fatty Acids Saturated Monounsat, Polyunsat, AGtrans naturals and from partial hydrogenation. Including FAMEs preparation and IS added
  • LC/MS/MS to measure organic contaminants (like nitrofurans) in meat (chicken) and toxins (like Ochratoxin A) in coffee.
  • LC/MS/MS for Metabolomics
  • GC-MS, GC-O, e-Nose and e-Tongue for food flavour analysis
  • IRMS for food/feed traceability
  • NMR for food purity, integrity, authenticity and traceability
  • (Bio)sensors and microsystems for food quality and safety

Applications

  • Dietary Supplements
  • Agricultural Products
  • Food Labelling
  • Food Composition
  • Food Safety
  • Food Quality
  • Food Regulatory
  • Agrofood Production
  • Food Packaging
  • Food/Feed Processing