New revised NMKL method; Sampling and pre-treatment of foods and animal feedstuffs, for quantitative microbiological examination (NMKL No. 91, 3.ed., 2001)

This NMKL method is a revision of the 2nd. Ed. from 1988: "Pre-treatment of foods for microbiological examination". The principal changes are indicated  in the title, as the new revised method also includes feedstuffs. A paragraph on sampling, describing laboratory sampling, sample sizes and storage, is also included.   

The method is complementary to several other NMKL methods for the detection of specific microorganisms. Therefore, in addition to procedures, descriptions of reagents are given, in accordance with these methods.

This method has been editorially revised; ie recommendations and requirements given in NMKL report No 5 (1994): Guidelines in Quality Assurance for Microbiological laboratories and NMKL report No. 19 (1998): Harmonization of microbiological methods are included in the current edition of NMKL method No 91.

NMKL would like to thank Brithe Jessen, Danish Meat Research Institute, Roskilde, Denmark, for revision of the method.

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New NMKL procedure; Evaluation of results derived from the analysis of certified reference materials (NMKL procedure No 9)

In 1998, a Nordic project group began work on a procedure for the use and evaluation of results derived from the analysis of certified reference materials. The working group, with Lars Jorhem as project leader, has pioneered in this area, and the procedure "Evaluation of results derived from the analysis of certified reference materials" has recently been published. It is available in English and can be purchased from the NMKL secretariat.  The procedure will also be translated into a Scandinavian language in the course of 2001. Jorhem presented the content of the procedure in a lecture at the 8^th conference of BERM (Biological and Environmental Reference Materials) in Washington, where it received considerable attention.

NMKL would like to thank Erik Huusfeldt-Larsen, Reino Kario, Kristin Olafsðóttir, Kåre Julshamn, Joakim Engman, Torbjörn Schröder and last but not least, the project leader and the author of the procedure, Lars Jorhem, for his considerable and enthusiastic involvement, and its successful outcome.

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NMKL procedure No. 5 (1997):  Estimation and expression of measurement uncertainty in chemical analysis is now also available in Spanish.

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Seminar on sampling

Friday August 24, 2001, the Norwegian National Committee of NMKL is arranging a seminar on Sampling at Maihaugen, Lillehammer.

The seminar is open for everyone; the languages will however be Scandinavian.

The seminar will address such topics as sampling for microbiological, chemical and sensory analysis; the statistical background for sampling as well as practical sampling in research institutions, the food industry and food control authorities.

Maihaugen,  located in the middle of Lillehammer, is a leading open-air folk museum, with 185 buildings: stave church, complete smallholder’s farmyard, country manor, town collection and a 1900-collection, including contemporary houses.

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55th NMKL Annual Meeting, 2001

The 55th NMKL Annual Meeting will be held August 25 - 28, 2001, in Lillehammer.  It was previously announced that the meeting was to be arranged in Røros, but due to the airline’s closure of its flights to this destination, NMKL has had to relocate the Annual Meeting. Lillehammer, however, is definitely not a bad alternative: Juan Antonio Samaranch and the International Olympic committee chose Lillehammer as the arena for the Olympic Games in 1994, a choice they did not regret.

Hopefully, neither will NMKL, despite the fact that the NMKL meeting is being arranged at a different time of year.

NMKL’s Annual Meeting will be held in historical surroundings at Maihaugen, which is a very special museum, with dignified timber houses in beautiful surroundings. Maihaugen is about 5 minutes walk through the park from Radisson SAS Lillehammer Hotel, where the delegates will be accommodated.

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In NMKL newsletter No 45, it was informed that Cycloheximide (or Actidion) was no longer commercially available, and that it could be substituted with Amphotericin B, which has been thoroughly tested for use in both the Campylobacter and the Listeria methods. Merck have subsequently informed us that Cycloheximide is still   available from eg Calbiochem.

If laboratories, for work environmental health reasons, wish to replace Cycloheximide in the above-mentioned NMKL methods, this may be done with reference to the information given in the NMKL newsletter No. 45/00.

The ISO committee TC 34/SC 9: "Food and Agricultural Products - Microbiology", has circulated a questionnaire regarding the use and supply of cycloheximide in ISO standards. It is evident from the responses that that cycloheximid is again available. However, it was questioned whether an antifungal agent is necessary in all substrate formulae. The committee will discuss this matter at the meeting of June 19-20, 2001.

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NMKL executive committee

At the end of January 2001, the meeting of the NMKL executive committee was held. The committee consists of the chairpersons in the 5 national committees; Ole Bjørn Jensen (DK), Harriet Wallin (FIN), Franklín Georgsson (ISL), Gudrun Q. Rognerud (N) and Ulla Edberg (SE) respectively, and the NMKL secretary-general Hilde Skår Norli. The committee’s mandate is to discuss topics for NMKL’s working program, the organization’s policy and to endorse the budget and accounts.

The following referees have been appointed since the NMKL annual meeting in August 2000.

Truls Nesbakken, Norwegian Meat Cooperative, Dep. of Research and Development, is appointed as referee on: 3.16: Yersinia enterocolitica. Detection in foods (Rev of NMKL method No 117, 3. ed., 1996).

Johanna Björkroth, University of Helsingfors, Dep. of Veterinary Medicine, Finland, is appointed as referee on: 5.6: Lactic acid bacteria. Determination in meat and meat products. (Rev of NMKL method No 140, 1991).

Sven Qvist, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, is appointed as referee on: 3.19: Brochothrix thermosphacta. Determination in meat and meat products (Rev of NMKL method 141, 1991)

The following methods are approved for publishing:

Total number of microbes. Determination using the swab method or contact plate method on utensils in contact with food.

Coliform bacteria. Detection in foods.

Thermotolerant coliform bacteria. Enumeration in Foods.

Bacteriological examination of fresh and frozen seafood

Water activity. Instrumental determination by Novasina electronic hygrometer and aqua-lab dew point instrument

Solids. Determination in foods.

Harmonization of NMKL's methods for determination of ash

Total dietary fiber. Gravimetric determination after enzymatic degradation in foods (AOAC-NMKL method)

Fats in milk, cream and milk conserves. Analytical determination by  weight

Acid values. Determination in fats

Hydroxyproline. Colorimetric determination as a measure of collagen in meat and meat products

The resolution to revise the following methods was made:

No. 40, 1961: Fat. Determination of content in milk by the Gerber method

No.  89 1974 +1986: Chloride. Determination in meat and fish products

No. 103 1984 +1991: Benzoic acid and sorbic acid in foods. Quantitative determination by GC

The resolution to withdraw the following methods was made:

Nr. 8, 2. utg, 1966: Formic acid. Determination in foods

Nr. 37, 1961: Preservatives. Fermentation test for non-specific qualitative detection in foods.

Please remove these two methods from your NMKL collection, as they can no longer be referred to as NMKL methods.

The executive committee also resolved that NMKL procedures are to be reviewed for the first time after 2 years and then every 5^th year or when required.

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Inter Agency Meeting - IAM

Inter Agency Meeting  - a forum for international organizations working in the field of analysis and sampling of food products and associated quality assurance measures.

The aim of IAM is to promote cooperation between international organizations; to avoid duplication of work and to harmonize guidelines and terminology regarding method validation and quality assurances measures. IAM is also to support the needs of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. There are about 15 member organizations; among them ISO, IDF, AOAC International, AACC, CEN, Eurachem and NMKL). AOAC International has the secretariat of IAM. IAM were convened recently in connection with the meeting of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling. The organizations exchanged valuable information and decided among other things to work towards harmonizing the presentation of results from collaborative studies in the texts of the methods. Minutes of the meeting will be made available at AOACs home page: www.aoac.org.

Methods in electronic format

 - fast and efficient!!

Many NMKL methods are now available in PDF format!!

See NMKLs the chronologic index, methods available as PDF-files will be marked .

In 2001, NMKL subscribers will be offered  NMKL methods as PDF files in addition to hard copy. Next year, subscribers can choose whether they would like receive methods as PDF files or hard copies.

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Copyright © NMKL.  20. March 2001.