Chemical Contaminants and Residues in Food calls for methods to quantify melamine in food!

The AOAC Community on Chemical Contaminants and Residues in Food is planning to launch a collaborative study for determination of melamine in foodstuffs.

The features and performance criteria of the method suitable for the collaborative study are:

1. Confirmatory method based on mass spectrometry
2. Quantification by isotope dilution
3. Limit of detection ≤ 0.05 mg/kg
4. Reproducibility < 15% and recovery in the range 80-110%
5. Preferably, the method includes the determination of cyanuric acid

Method should be designed to be able to demonstrate milk-powdered infant formula compliance at 1 mg/kg, and other food products compliance at 2.5 mg/kg. Simple approaches to sample preparation will receive special attention.

The AOAC Community on Chemical Contaminants and Residues in Food invites scientists with an expertise in food contaminant analysis to participate. If your laboratory would like to participate in the study, contact Dr. Delatour.

Submit your contact information to the chairman of the Subgroup Unknowns:
Dr. Thierry Delatour, thierry.delatour@rdls.nestle.com
Nestlé Research Centre, Quality and Safety Department,
Vers-chez-les-Blanc, CH – 1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland.
Fax: +41.21.785.8553;

Other "unknowns" Topics

Unknowns Subgroup of the Chemical Contaminants and Residues Community,

Thank you for your participation and/or interest in the Unknowns Subgroup of the Chemical Contaminants and Residues Community.  During our initial meeting at the AOAC conference in Anaheim, we proposed a draft framework for the scope and purpose of this subgroup as follows:

• Emerging Issues in Food or Food Contact Contaminants and Residues (example:  melamine in pet food)
  • Reaction Products
  • Intentional Adulterants
  • Unapproved Additives and Processes
  • Formation of an "Emerging Issues" Network
• Screening Methods for Unknowns/Adulterants
  • Raw Material and Finished Product Screening
  • Method Performance Criteria (at time of use vs. full validation)
  • Criteria for Identification of Unknowns

This subgroup is rather unique in that there is not a single target analyte/matrix for which methods can be discussed and developed, but rather the target analytes are "unknown contaminants/adulterants" and methods are needed to screen for and identify such compounds. 

As expected there appears to be some diverse interests on this topic of "unknowns" I would like to request that each member fill out the attached Method Performance Criteria Form. I have attached an example for your reference. Some ground rules to keep in mind
 
Please identify the top two priorities that you want to work on,
we want to keep this Chemistry and/or Food at this point

These should be combinations that you would be willing to work on in your laboratories so we have participation from as many laboratories as possible

Please identify methods that you are already working on in your laboratory and attach a summary of the method.

Return to Delatour,Thierry,LAUSANNE,NRC-QS [thierry.delatour@rdls.nestle.com]

Example of Performance Criteria

Performance Criteria "Form"

We have also attached the current roster of the Unknowns Subgroup.  Please double check that your information is correct and to see if your application for the subgroup has been received.  If you have not filled out the application, please use the attached registration form and send it back to me by email so I can forward it to the Community Chair.

And finally, we anticipate that you may have colleagues or other contacts who may be interested in joining the Unknowns Subgroup.  Please forward this email to them along with the registration form so I can add them to our roster.  AOAC membership is not required to participate in the subgroup.