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2011.12.19. - LGC Standards offers new reference material to support improved quantification of vitamins in food

New CRM enables food labs to comply with EU directive 90/496/EEC

LGC Standards has introduced a new certified reference material for food testing laboratories that will enable them to detect and quantify reliably a number of water and fat soluble vitamins in whole milk powder, and thereby comply with the European Union (EU) Directive 90/496/EEC legislation on Nutrition Labelling of Foodstuffs.

The Directive (and its successive amendments) includes vitamins among the list of ingredients required to be included on food product labels. In order for food manufacturers to comply with this and other international legislations regarding the identification and labelling of a product’s contents, the need for accurate methods for vitamin determination is of utmost importance. To help food laboratories achieve sufficient levels of identification and quantification, a new certified reference material is now available for vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, C and E mass fractions in whole milk powder (ERM-BD600). Indicative values are attributed for the mass fractions of niacin and total folate, while additional material information is provided for vitamins B6 and D3. Milk powder was chosen for the matrix format because dairy products constitute a significant portion of food consumption.

Produced by the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, one of the Institutes of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in accordance to ISO Guides 34 and 35, the new reference material is intended for use in method validation (trueness estimation) and method performance control. Certified and indicative values for ERM-BD600 are 3.8 ± 0.6 mg/kg for vitamin A (all-trans-retinol), 4.1 ± 0.8 mg/kg for vitamin A (all-trans-retinol and 13-cis-retinol), 4.5 ± 0.6 mg/kg for vitamin B1, 16.7 ± 1.4 mg/kg for vitamin B2, 0.32 ± 0.07 mg/kg for vitamin B12, 74 ± 11 mg/kg for vitamin C, 86 ± 15 mg/kg for vitamin E, 8.0 ± 2.8 mg/kg for niacin and 0.55 ± 0.16 mg/kg for total folate.

Values are based on an inter-laboratory characterisation study; the uncertainty values contain contributions from the characterisation study and the homogeneity and stability assessment. In the majority of cases, the values are operationally defined by the methodology used for the determination.

For further information on this new vitamin in milk powder reference material, or to place an order please visit the LGC webshop (www.lgcstandards.com), contact your local LGC Standards sales office, or email: askus@lgcstandards.com

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Notes to editors

About LGC Standards

LGC Standards (www.lgcstandards.com) provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within the laboratory, and is part of LGC, whose LGC Science & Technology Division acts as the UK National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurements. LGC Standards supplies over 100,000 products, including reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards (produced under ISO Guide 34 accreditation), biological standards and reagents, and proficiency testing. LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, China, Russia, United Arab Emirates and the UK, a joint venture presence in India, and representatives in Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey and the US.

About LGC

LGC (www.lgcgroup.com) is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic, biotechnology, and diagnostic services, as well as diagnostic products and reference standards. LGC operates in a variety of markets which underpin the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for both public and private sector clients.

LGC operates internationally through four divisions - LGC Forensics, LGC Genomics, LGC Standards and LGC Science & Technology. The latter includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supports LGC's designated role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurement.

Our operations are extensively accredited to international quality standards such as ISO/IEC 17025. With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, the LGC Group employs ca 1,460 staff in 35 laboratories and centres globally. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint, LGC was founded almost 170 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist - a statutory function maintained by LGC today.

For further information contact:

Jane Firth

Business Sector Manager

LGC Standards, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LY, UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7323

Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 7009

Email: jane.firth@lgcgroup.com

Web: www.lgcstandards.com

Webshop: www.lgcstandards.com

Gavin Dallas

Communications / Press Officer

LGC, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LY, UK