Food Standards Agency

About: Food Standards Agency is a government organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Food safety & Population. The organization has 210 authors who have published 315 publications receiving 11498 citations. The organization is also known as: UK Food Standards Agency.

Harmonized guidelines for single-laboratory validation of methods of analysis (IUPAC Technical Report)

Abstract: Method validation is one of the measures universally recognized as a necessary part of a comprehensive system of quality assurance in analytical chemistry. In the past, ISO, IUPAC, and AOAC International have cooperated to produce agreed protocols or guidelines on the "Design, conduct and interpretation of method performance studies" [1], on the "Proficiency testing of (chemical) analytical laboratories" [2], on ''Internal quality control in analytical chemistry laboratories" [3], and on "The use of recovery information in analytical measurement" [4]. The Working Group that produced these protocols/guidelines has now been mandated by IUPAC to prepare guidelines on the single-laboratory validation of methods of analysis. These guidelines provide minimum recommendations on procedures that should be employed to ensure adequate validation of analytical methods. A draft of the guidelines has been discussed at an International Symposium on the Harmonization of Quality Assurance Systems in Chemical Laboratory, the proceedings from which have been published by the UK Royal Society of Chemistry.

The International Harmonized Protocol for the proficiency testing of analytical chemistry laboratories (IUPAC Technical Report)

Abstract: The international standardizing organizations-AOAC International, ISO, and IUPACcooperated to produce the International Harmonized Protocol for the Proficiency Testing of (Chemical) Analytical Laboratories. The Working Group that produced the protocol agreed to revise that Protocol in the light of recent developments and the experience gained since it was first published. This revision has been prepared and agreed upon in the light of comments received following open consultation.

The EPIC nutrient database project (ENDB) : a first attempt to standardize nutrient databases across the 10 European countries participating in the EPIC study.

Abstract: Objective: This paper describes the ad hoc methodological concepts and procedures developed to improve the comparability of Nutrient databases (NDBs) across the 10 European countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). This was required because there is currently no European reference NDB available. Design: A large network involving national compilers, nutritionists and experts on food chemistry and computer science was set up for the 'EPIC Nutrient DataBase' (ENDB) project. A total of 550-1500 foods derived from about 37 000 standardized EPIC 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRS) were matched as closely as possible to foods available in the 10 national NDBs. The resulting national data sets (NDS) were then successively documented, standardized and evaluated according to common guidelines and using a DataBase Management System specifically designed for this project. The nutrient values of foods unavailable or not readily available in NDSs were approximated by recipe calculation, weighted averaging or adjustment for weight changes and vitamin-mineral losses, using common algorithms. Results: The final ENDB contains about 550-1500 foods depending on the country and 26 common components. Each component value was documented and standardized for unit, mode of expression, definition and chemical method of analysis, as far as possible. Furthermore, the overall completeness of NDSs was improved (≥99%), particularly for β-carotene and vitamin E. Conclusion: The ENDB constitutes a first real attempt to improve the comparability of NDBs across European countries. This methodological work will provide a useful tool for nutritional research as well as end-user recommendations to improve NDBs in the future. Chemicals / CAS: alcohol, 64-17-5; alpha tocopherol, 1406-18-4, 1406-70-8, 52225-20-4, 58-95-7, 59-02-9; ascorbic acid, 134-03-2, 15421-15-5, 50-81-7; beta carotene, 7235-40-7; calcium, 7440-70-2; cholesterol, 57-88-5; cyanocobalamin, 53570-76-6, 68-19-9, 8064-09-3; iron, 14093-02-8, 53858-86-9, 7439-89-6; magnesium, 7439-95-4; phosphorus, 7723-14-0; potassium, 7440-09-7; protein, 67254-75-5; pyridoxine, 12001-77-3, 58-56-0, 65-23-6, 8059-24-3; retinol, 68-26-8, 82445-97-4; riboflavin, 83-88-5; starch, 9005-25-8, 9005-84-9; thiamine, 59-43-8, 67-03-8; water, 7732-18-5

1997 UK Total Diet Study--dietary exposures to aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin and zinc.

Abstract: Concentrations of aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin and zinc were determined in samples from the 1997 UK Total Diet Study and used to estimate dietary exposures of the general UK population. Population average dietary exposures to aluminium (3.4mg/day), arsenic (0.065mg/day), cadmium (0.012mg/day), chromium (0.10mg/day), copper (1.2mg/day), mercury (0.003mg/day), nickel (0.13mg/day), tin (1.8mg/ day) and zinc (8.4mg/day) are similar to those from previous UK Total Diet Studies and are below the appropriate PTWIs, PMTDIs and TDIs. Dietary exposure of the UK population (0.026 mg/day) to lead is falling as a result of measures taken to reduce lead contamination of the environment and food and is well below the PTWI. There has been little change in UK estimates of selenium exposure since the 1994 Total Diet Study but current estimates (0.039mg/day) are lower than those derived from earlier Total Diet Studies.