Psychrotrophic
microorganisms. Determination by the colony count method.
Test kit reviewed by NMKL:
New NMKL method No. 166, 2000:
Arsenic. Determination in seafood by electrothermal atomic absorption
spectrometry (ET AAS) after microwave digestion.
Work
with the arsenic method started in 1995, with testing of the critical
parameters of the method. Four laboratories participated. The method
performance study started in 1996 and it took about two years before the final
results from a total of 8 laboratories were received. The study showed that
the determination of arsenic with ET AAS is difficult and requires skilled
analysts.
Arsenic is an element with a complex chemistry,
especially in seafood (about 20 different chemical forms have been isolated
and identified.) Seafood is the foodstuff with highest arsenic content.
The high level of arsenic in seafood and especially in shrimps, was
reported as early as 1926. It was stated already then that the arsenic
components in seafood were harmless, compared to inorganic arsenic. In
connection with governments (EU and national health authorities) focussing on
food safety, arsenic is one of the components that is given special attention.
This arsenic method has been taken up within working group 10 in CEN (the
European standardization organization). AOAC
International are also interested in adopting the method.
Kåre
Julshamn
New NMKL method: No. 74, 3rd
Ed., 2000: Psychrotrophic microorganisms. Determination by the colony count
method
The
2nd Ed. of the method is from 1989 and the changes in this 3rd
version of the method are mainly editorial. The title of the method has been
changed from “Psychrotrophic microorganisms. Determination by the
Plate Count Method” to “Psychrotrophic
microorganisms. Determination by the Colony Count Method”.
Psychrotrophic microorganisms are now defined according to the conditions and
description of the method, instead of the rather confusing and extensive
definition in the last version. The incubation time at 17°C is now 20±3
hours, instead of 16-20 hours. Other changes are minor, and follow the
procedures set down in (i) NMKL Report No 5, 2nd ed., 1994: Quality
Assurance Guidelines for Microbiological Laboratories and (ii) NMKL Report No
19, 1998: Harmonising of microbiological methods.
Franklín
Georgsson
NMKL would like to thank
Franklín Georgsson, Environmental and Food Agency, Iceland, for the revision
of the method.
TECRA® UniqueTM Salmonella
Seminar on genetically modified
foodstuffs – a need for Nordic cooperation?
A seminar about genetically modified foods (GMO) was
arranged August 25, 2000 in connection with NMKL’s Annual Meeting. The topic
was presented very broadly, it was introduced with the scope, the use and
importance of GMO’s, followed by considerations of possible risks in the use
of genetically modified plants and microorganisms and then the description of
procedures and experience with determination and control of genetically
modified foodstuffs.
Representatives from each of the Nordic countries
informed about their experience on determination and control of GMOs in their
country. The debate that followed concluded that there is a great interest in
establishing networks both within planning for examinations as well as in
respect of exploring/sharing experience of analytical methods. It was
suggested to apply the Council of Ministers to establish a network for
inspectors with GMO as topic and to apply Nordtest for funds to a workshop for
discussing technical challenges.
About
50 persons attended the seminar, mainly from the food control authorities in
the Nordic countries but also some from the industry.
A
report with abstracts from the seminar will be published. The report will be
distributed to the attendants and also be made available at the NMKL
secretariat.
The
Danish National Committee of NMKL arranged the seminar with help from Folmer
D. Eriksen, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, whom is given special
thanks.
Jens Kirk Andersen
About
60 participants attended the 54th. NMKL Annual Meeting held at Rønne,
Bornholm in Denmark, at the end of August. In order to reduce expenses, the
meeting was held at the weekend, and NMKL members worked hard from Saturday
until Tuesday midday. The Danish National Committee of NMKL had set the stage
for an excellent meeting, both socially and technically. NMKL’s principle
activities are carried out by 4 different sub-committees. All issues within
NMKL’s working program and also matters of policy were discussed.
The
Danish National Committee invited the participants to take a break from their
hard work, and join them on a guided tour of the idyllic and beautiful
Bornholm. In a modern version of the creation story, Bornholm origins are
explained in this way: When God had formed the Nordic countries, he was left
with some of the prettiest bits, which these countries are noted for. He
gathered these bits together and threw them out into the Baltic Sea, and
that’s how Bornholm came to be. The
Bornholmers therefore like to describe their island as the Nordic countries in
a nutshell. There must have also been some leftovers from
around the Mediterranean, because peach, fig and mulberry trees also grow on
the island. Bornholm is also known as an island for creative people (not only
chemists, microbiologists and sensory analysts). We experienced their
creativity first-hand, in a pottery, a glassblowers’ workshop and a
fish-smokery. We extend our
warmest thanks to the Danish National Committee for the arrangement.
This
year, NMKL has also had the pleasure of welcoming representatives from the
Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Food Issues (EK-Livs), from EK-Livs
working group for food control (NNK) and its working group for microbiology
and risk evaluation (NNM). NMKL was also pleased to welcome representatives
form AOAC International and IDF (International Dairy Federation).
New
Chairman of the microbiological committee.
NMKL
gives a special vote of thanks to Per Norberg, Sweden, who has chaired
sub-committee 2 for the past 4 years. It has been a great pleasure to work
with you. NMKL is delighted that you are continuing in NMKL, even though you
considered it necessarily to resign your chairmanship.
At
the Annual Meeting, Maija Hattakka, from the National Food Administration,
Finland, was elected as the new chairperson for the microbiological committee.
Her mandate starts in September 2000 and lasts until the NMKL Annual Meeting
in 2004. Best wishes, Maija, with the important job of leading NMKL’s
extensive microbiological program.
NMKL are looking for laboratories to participate in the collaborative
studies on the following methods:
Biogenic amines. Liquid chromatographic method
for determination in foodstuffs. Contact:
Susanna Eerola/ Mervi Rokka, National Veterinary and Food
Administration, Finland,
Fax: +358 939 31920,
e-mail: susanna.eerola@eela.fi, or contact nmkl@vetinst.no
Immunochemical
method for determination of specific proteins
Contact: Ingrid
Malmheden Yman, National Food Administration, Sweden, Fax +46 18 105848,
email:iyma@slv.se, or
nmkl@vetinst.no
Resolutions on method
topics from 54th NMKL Annual Meeting
The following methods were approved for
publishing, conditional to certain adjustments:
- Pretreatment of foods for microbiological examination.
(Referee: Birthe Jessen, Denmark) - Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.
(Referee: Emma Frändberg, Sweden) - Water activity. Determination using Novasina electronic hygrometer
and aqua-lab dew point instrument.
(Referee: Finn Løvhøyden, Norway) - Solids. Determination in foods.
(Referee: Leif Bøgh-Sørensen, Denmark) - Hydroxyproline. Colourimetric determination as a measure of collagen
in meat and meat products. (Rev of No. 127, 1988)
(Referee: Leif Bøgh-Sørensen, Denmark)
The methods will be published during 2001.