Chemical and Microbiological Food Analyses

Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in this international symposium in Oslo, Norway, on 3-4 June 2019 arranged by AOAC Europe – NMKL – NordVal International.

The purpose of the symposium is to bring together scientists, technicians and companies to discuss emerging technologies and techniques with emphasis on recent advances and applications in food analyses.

The scope of this symposium is to discuss different aspects of use, validation and application of –omics related to food, but not only.

The topics are presented in plenum and in parallel sessions:

• Genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, foodomics
• New rapid methods
• Multi-methods
• Hand-held instrumentation
• Digitalization of the analytical process (from sampling to interpretation of results)

For programme see here

Fees:
Registration, ordinary: 400 EUR
Registration, reduced for students: 200 EUR
Exhibitors: 1,600 EUR, covering facilities and registration for two persons

Deadline: 19 March 2019

Send registration form and abstracts to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstracts should include title, name of presenter(s) and contact information. Main contents should be max. 150 words.

Venue: KS Agenda, Haakon VIIs gate 9, in the centre of Oslo, Norway

NordVal International receives many applications and, consequently, regularly seeks members to its technical committee. If you are interested in contributing to its work, ref. below-mentioned description of functions, please contact the NMKL secretariat. To see description of functions please click here

NMKL method No. 202, "Methylmercury: determination by isotope dilution GC-ICPMS in foodstuffs", describes the quantitative determination of mono-methylmercury (MMHg) (10-5000 µg/kg dry weight) in mainly marine biota samples. The principle of the method is that the sample is spiked with an appropriate amount of Hg isotope-enriched MMHg and extracted. After derivatisation the sample is analysed using GC-ICPMS. The GC separates the different mercury species before MMHg is atomised and ionised in the high temperature of the ICP. The ions are extracted from the plasma, and in a mass spectrometer the ions are separated by their mass/charge ratio.

NMKL procedure No. 10 describes the control programmes and methods which should be applied when preparing microbiological culture media in a quality-assured laboratory. The procedure includes both solid and liquid culture media in the following categories: purchased, ready-to-use culture media; culture media prepared from commercially available dehydrated media; culture media prepared from the individual components.

NordVal International Certificate 032 issued to Bio-Rad for "RAPID’Salmonella method, short protocol and RAPID’Salmonella method, double enrichment protocol" has been renewed and extended. The method describes detection of Salmonella using a chromogenic agar and confirmation of presumptive colonies. An extension study has been performed to ensure compliance with ISO 16140-2 and NordVal Validation Protocol 1 and for extension to store RAPID’Salmonella plates for 72 h at 5°C ± 3°C before reading as well as extension for using the MALDI Biotyper from Bruker for the confirmation of the typical colonies isolated on RAPID’Salmonella plates or after purification step on a non-selective agar plate. After having reviewed the results, NordVal International concludes, that "RAPID’Salmonella method, short protocol and RAPID’Salmonella method, double enrichment protocol" for detecting Salmonella  provides results equivalent to the results from the reference method when RAPID’Salmonella method, short protocol is applied for detection in a broad range of foods, feed and environmental samples (excluding primary production samples) and RAPID’Salmonella method, double enrichment protocol” is used for dairy products (excluding raw milk).  See the certificate here.

Three certificates from HyServe have been renewed. The methods describe ready-to-use selective plates for enumeration of bacteria. Extended studies have been performed to ensure compliance with ISO 16140-2 and NordVal Validation Protocol 1. After having reviewed the results, NordVal International concludes that all three methods provide results equivalent to those from the respective reference methods when applied for detection in a broad range of foods.

The renewed certificates are:

NordVal International Certificate 034 for "Compact Dry ETB Method for the Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae". See the certificate here.

NordVal International Certificate 035 for "Compact Dry CF Method for the Enumeration of Total Coliforms". See the certificate here.

NordVal International Certificate 036 for "Compact Dry EC Method for the Enumeration of Escherichia coli and coliforms". See the certificate here.

NMKL Method 183 describes the sensory quality control method for drinking water. The Finnish / English version of the method has been updated and now includes also test setup and parameters for the appearance of drinking water. Furthermore, the references have been updated. Update of the Norwegian / English version is expected to be ready early 2018.

NMKL method No. 203 describes the determination of sodium content in foodstuffs by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The CE method is quick and needs both very little sample handling and low amount of solvents. It is applicable to various matrices such as bread, vegetables and meat products. The salt content is calculated from the sodium content with the formula: salt = 2.5 x sodium.

Sodium is extracted from sample and analysed by CE with diode array detector. The minimum content of sodium that can be detected and quantified is 0.03 g/100 g.