Karl Presser, David Weber, Moira Norrie
There exist established standards and quality controls for laboratory analysis on national, European and international levels. But there are only a few data quality recommendations for the electronic storage and exchange of analytical data. We therefore have collected explicit and implicit data quality requirements for food composition data and classified them according to their impact on implementation and quality assessment within a food composition database system.
Mark Roe, Jenny Plumb, Susanne Westenbrink, Luisa Oliveira, Isabel Castanheira, Marine Oseredczuk, Aida Turrini, Paul Finglas
Users of food composition data assume that all data is good quality and fit for purpose but quality can vary and depend on a wide range of factors. Different types of data, e.g. nutrients and bioactive compounds and data derived from different sources can differ in quality. The EuroFIR system for assessing data quality allows sources of variation to be evaluated. Evaluation of food description, component identification, sampling, number of analytical samples, sample handling, analytical method and analytical quality control allows users to assess data quality.
Jette Jakobsen
The analytical data for food samples are no better than the sampling strategy and the performance of the analytical methods. Furthermore, lack of standardised methods for nutrients in foods can be a source of error. But thorough investigation of the components that need to be quantified and careful selection of the method combined with documentation of especially accuracy will secure reliable results. In this paper the state-of-the art for vitamin D analyses in food is used as an example.
R. Dalipi, E. Marguí, L. Borgese, F. Bilo, G. Zappa, C. Zoani, E. Sangiorgi, L.E. Depero
In this work, a fast and simple analytical method has been developed for the multi elemental analysis of different vegetal foodstuff samples, by using a combination of two low power benchtop total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) systems. The suspension of the powdered samples in deionized water showed to be the most suitable way for the preparation and analysis of this kind of samples. However, for comparison purposes the samples were also acid digested and measured by TXRF.
Carlo Brera, Barbara De Santis, Francesca Debegnach, Emanuela Gregori
Over the last ten years, the role on measurement uncertainty has been embraced in those sectors where, traditionally, metrology has strived to assert the concept and its applications. Its critical role in the compliance assessment and decision making in the context of official control is pivotal and the harmonization of approaches is crucial for the success of the control activities.
Barbara De Santis, Marina Patriarca, Francesca Debegnach, Marzia De Giacomo, Emanuela Gregori, Carlo Brera
Over the last ten years, the role on measurement uncertainty has been embraced in those sectors where, traditionally, metrology has strived to assert the concept and its applications. Mycotoxins analysis constitutes an example where not many reference guidance are available, thus experts are working to assess, verify and control uncertainty budget coming from the application of their methods. Possible approaches to be used are top down (metrological) or bottom up (holistic approach from the availability of reproducibility data). Examples on how these two approaches may be used in the...
Marina Patriarca, Barbara De Santis, Carlo Brera
Since the publication of the “Guide to the estimate of measurement uncertainty”, in 1993, several efforts were put in place to implement the principles of uncertainty estimate in all fields of measurement and testing. In the area of chemical analysis, including food analysis, it was early recognised that a purely metrological approach was not fully applicable. Eurachem and other organizations played a major role in implementing alternative approaches based on collaborative studies and the wealth of data already available, even to single laboratories, from quality assurance practices. More...
Annalisa De Girolamo, Biancamaria Ciasca, Joerg Stroka, Stefanka Bratinova, Michelangelo Pascale, Angelo Visconti, Veronica M.T. Lattanzio
Two international Proficiency Testings (PTs) have been conducted in 2014 for the simultaneous determination of deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, ochratoxin A and aflatoxins in maize and of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins and ochratoxin A in wheat, respectively, by using LC-MS methods. The overall performance of participating laboratories to the PTs and the trend in multi-mycotoxin determination by LC-MS in maize over the years 2011-2014 are presented.
Angela Sorbo, Maria Ciprotti, Anna Chiara Turco, Andrea Colabucci, Guendalina Fornari Luswergh, Marco Di Gregorio, Rosa Giordano, Laura Ciaralli
The consistent production of reliable analytical results can be a demanding task for laboratories that must select a strategy to guarantee the quality of the released data. Among the possible strategies the partecipation in Proficiency Testings (PTs) on regular basis is one of the best ways to monitor the laboratory's performance both against its own requirements and the norm of other laboratories. In case of a consolidated network of participants, PTs can be used to harmonize their lavel of performance as well.
Marta Ventura, Ines Coelho, Sandra Gueifao, Andreia Rego, Isabel Castanheira
TDS provide analytical data to estimate dietary exposure of chemical contaminants. In this work was studied Pb, As, Cr and Cd profile in foods from Portuguese TDS Pilot Study. Nine hundred and twenty four foods were pooled in two hundred and thirty one laboratory samples and analysed by ICPMS under rigorous metrological control. The highest amount (µg/kg) obtained for each chemical substance was: As 9138 ± 237 (Octopus); Pb 282 ± 5.5 (snails); Cr 605 ± 28 (Cured meat); Cd 248 ± 5 (snails). These levels of potential harmful substances do not pose a risk to population.