Abstract
Investigations in food science and technology, whether by the food industry, governmental agencies, or universities, often require determination of food composition and characteristics. Trends and demands of consumers, the food industry, and national and international regulations challenge food scientists as they work to monitor food composition and to ensure the quality and safety of the food supply. All food products require analysis as part of a quality management program throughout the development process (including raw ingredients), through production, and after a product is in the market. In addition, analysis is done of problem samples and competitor products. The characteristics of foods (i.e., chemical composition, physical properties, sensory properties) are used to answer specific questions for regulatory purposes and typical quality control. The nature of the sample and the specific reason for the analysis commonly dictate the choice of analytical methods. Speed, precision, accuracy, and ruggedness often are key factors in this choice. Validation of the method for the specific food matrix being analyzed is necessary to ensure usefulness of the method. Making an appropriate choice of the analytical technique for a specific application requires a good knowledge of the various techniques (Fig. 1-1). For example, your choice of method to determine the salt content of potato chips would be different if it is for nutrition labeling than for quality control. The success of any analytical method relies on the proper selection and preparation of the food sample, carefully performing the analysis, and doing the appropriate calculations and interpretation of the data. Methods of analysis developed and endorsed by several nonprofit scientific organizations allow for standardized comparisons of results between different laboratories and for evaluation of less standard procedures. Such official methods are critical in the analysis of foods, to ensure that they meet the legal requirements established by governmental agencies. Government regulations and international standards most relevant to the analysis of foods are mentioned here but covered in more detail in Chap. 2, and nutrition labeling regulations in the USA are covered in Chap. 3. Internet addresses for many of the organizations and government agencies discussed are given at the end of this chapter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptions1.10 References
Flickinger B (1997) Challenges and solutions in compositional analysis. Food Quality 3(19):21–26
Spence JT (2006) Challenges related to the composition of functional foods. J Food Compost Anal 19 Suppl 1: S4–S6
Alli I (2003) Food quality assurance: principles and practices. CRC, Boca Raton, FL
Vasconcellos JA (2004) Quality assurances for the food industry: a practical approach. CRC, Boca Raton, FL
Multon J-L (1995) Analysis and control methods for foods and agricultural products, vol 1: quality control for foods and agricultural products. Wiley, New York
Linden G, Hurst WJ (1996) Analysis and control methods for foods and agricultural products, vol 2: analytical techniques for foods and agricultural products. Wiley, New York
Multon J-L, Stadleman WJ, Watkins BA (1997) Analysis and control methods for foods and agricultural products, vol 4: analysis of food constituents. Wiley, New York
Pearson D (1973) Introduction – some basic principles of quality control, Ch. 1. In: Laboratory techniques in food analysis. Wiley, New York, pp 1–26
Pomeranz Y, Meloan CE (1994) Food analysis: theory and practice, 3rd edn. Chapman & Hall, New York
Jones L (2005) Chemical analysis of food: an introduction. Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association, Gloucestershire, UK
Tothill IE (2003) Rapid and on-line instrumentation for food quality assurance. Woodhead, CRC, Boca Raton, FL
Nollett LML (2004) Handbook of food analysis, 2nd edn, vol 1: physical characterization and nutrient analysis, vol 2: residues and other food component analysis. CRC, Boca Raton, FL
Otles S (2005) Methods of analysis of food components and additives. Woodhead, Cambridge, England
Otles S (2008) Handbook of food analysis instruments. CRC, Boca Raton, FL
Wetzel DLB, Charalambous G (eds) (1998) Instrumental methods in food and beverage analysis. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
AOAC International (1993) A food matrix organizational system applied to collaborative studies. Referee 17(7): 1, 6, 7
Lovett RA (1997) U.S. food label law pushes fringes of analytical chemistry. Inside Lab Manage 1(4):27–28
DeVries JW, Silvera KR (2001) AACC collaborative study of a method for determining vitamins A and E in foods by HPLC (AACC Method 86–06). Cereal Foods World 46(5):211–215
Sharpless KE, Greenberg RR, Schantz MM, Welch MJ, Wise SA, Ihnat M (2004) Filling the AOAC triangle with food-matrix standard reference materials. Anal Bioanal Chem 378:1161–1167
Ellis C, Hite D, van Egmond H (1997) Development of methods to test all food matrixes unrealistic, says OMB. Inside Lab Manage 1(8):33–35
Latimer GW Jr (1997) Check sample programs keep laboratories in sync. Inside Lab Manage 1(4):18–20
Ambrus A (2008) Quality assurance, Ch. 5. In: Tadeo JL (ed) Analysis of pesticides in food and environmental samples. CRC, New York, p 145
AOAC International (2007) Official methods of analysis, 18th edn., 2005; current through revision 2, 2007 (On-line). AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD
AACC International (2010) Approved methods of analysis, 11th edn (online). AACC International, St. Paul, MN
AOCS (2009) Official methods and recommended practices, 6th edn. American Oil Chemists’ Society, Champaign, IL
Wehr HM, Frank JF (eds) (2004) Standard methods for the examination of dairy products, 17th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC
Eaton AD, Clesceri LS, Rice EW, Greenberg AE (eds) (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC
U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) (2008) Food chemicals codex, 6th edn. United Book, Baltimore, MD
1.9 Acknowledgements
The author thanks the numerous former students, working in quality assurance in the food industry, who reviewed this chapter and contributed ideas for its revision.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
1 1.11 Relevant Internet Addresses
American Association of Cereal Chemists – http://www.aaccnet.org/
American Oil Chemists’ Society –http://www.aocs.org/
American Public Health Association – http://www.apha.org/
AOAC International – http://www.aoac.org
Code of Federal Regulations – http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html
Codex Alimentarius Commission – http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/index_en.jsp
Food Chemicals Codex – http://www.usp.org/fcc/
Food and Drug Administration – http://www.fda.gov
Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition – http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/
Current Good Manufacturing Practices – http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cgmps.html
Food Labeling and Nutrition – http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/label.html
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point – http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/haccp.html
National Institute of Standards and Technology –http://www.nist.gov/
U.S. Department of Agriculture – http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome
Food Safety and Inspection Service – http://www.fsis.usda.gov
HACCP/Pathogen Reduction – http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Hazard_Analysis_∖&_Pathogen_Reduction/index.asp
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nielsen, S.S. (2010). Introduction to Food Analysis. In: Food Analysis. Food Analysis. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1478-1_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1478-1_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1477-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1478-1
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)