November 2025: Important Advances in Food Analysis Standards

The November 2025 publication window has delivered two essential new standards in food analysis, directly impacting quality control and analytical practices across the global food sector. These updates refine methods for the extraction and analytical determination of fats and liposoluble compounds in milk, milk products, and edible oils, aligning laboratory testing with the latest scientific consensus. With the release of ISO 14156:2025 and prEN ISO 12966-4, industry stakeholders are empowered with clearer methodologies and improved consistency—crucial for ensuring food safety, accurate labeling, and meeting evolving regulatory demands.

Overview / Introduction

Food Technology is at the heart of modern food integrity, shaping how producers, processors, and laboratories guarantee safety, nutrition, and compliance. Within this sector, analytical standards serve as the backbone for risk management, product labeling, and international trade. Every year, these internationally harmonized guidelines are re-examined and updated to reflect scientific progress. In this article, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of two recently published standards covering:

• Extraction methods for lipids and liposoluble compounds in dairy products
• Advanced capillary gas chromatographic analysis of animal and plant oils

Whether you’re a food industry professional, laboratory manager, regulatory affairs specialist, or procurement expert, staying updated on these standards is key to maintaining competitive edge and regulatory compliance.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO 14156:2025 - Lipid and Liposoluble Extraction in Dairy

Milk and milk products – Extraction methods for lipids and liposoluble compounds

Effective measurement of milk fat and associated liposoluble compounds underpins nutritional assessment, product standardization, and commercial classification of dairy products. ISO 14156:2025 specifies universally accepted procedures for extracting representative fat portions from a wide array of milk and milk-based products, ensuring that laboratories worldwide can achieve reproducible, accurate results.

Scope and Application

This second edition outlines extraction techniques for lipids and fat-soluble compounds from:

• Raw milk and cream
• Homogenized and fermented milk
• Evaporated and sweetened condensed milk
• Dried milk powders
• Cheese and processed dairy

Notably, the scope excludes free fatty acids (as defined in fat determination standards), focusing instead on the portion relevant for food composition analysis, product authentication, and quality grading. The extraction protocols are designed for seamless integration with established reference methods (such as ISO 12078, ISO 15884, ISO 15885, and ISO 18252 among others).

Key Requirements & Specifications

• Detailed sample preparation tailored for raw, processed, and concentrated milk products
• Standardized procedures for using reagents and laboratory apparatus
• Stepwise operating instructions for consistent extraction outcomes
• Explicit definitions of reporting formats for test results
• Integration of amendments from the previous edition and technical harmonization with IDF protocols

Who Should Comply?

• Dairy laboratories
• Milk processing facilities (quality and R&D departments)
• National reference labs and regulatory agencies
• Third-party product certification bodies

Practical Implementation

Switching to ISO 14156:2025 will refine your analytical workflow, providing reliable comparability across borders and supply chains. This standard is especially impactful for organizations exporting dairy, supporting both compliance and customer confidence.

Notable Changes from Previous Version

• Incorporation of Amendment ISO 14156:2001/Amd 1:2007
• Expanded harmonization between ISO and IDF requirements
• Updated technical definitions and clarification on exclusion of free fatty acids

Key highlights:

• Universal protocol for extracting fats and liposoluble compounds in dairy products
• Enhanced cross-method compatibility and alignment with global trade needs
• Reflects joint ISO–IDF expertise for robust international adoption

Access the full standard: View ISO 14156:2025 on iTeh Standards

prEN ISO 12966-4 - Capillary GC of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs)

Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters — Part 4: Determination by capillary gas chromatography (ISO/DIS 12966-4:2025)

In an era where the nutritional profile, authenticity, and safety of edible oils and fats are under intense scrutiny, prEN ISO 12966-4 establishes an authoritative laboratory method for the separation and quantification of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by capillary gas chromatography (GC). This standard is a major tool for compositional analysis, ensuring labeling accuracy and regulatory compliance in the fats and oils sector.

Scope and Application

This part of the ISO 12966 series covers:

• Determination of FAMEs (C4 to C24)—including saturated, cis-/trans-monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated FAMEs
• Application to crude, refined, partially/fully hydrogenated animal and vegetable fats and oils, and extracted food fats
• Exclusion of milk and milk fats, di-/tri-/polymerized, or oxidized fatty acids
• Inclusion of a specific protocol for FAME composition reporting (area %) in liquid vegetable oils (see Annex E)

Key Requirements & Specifications

• Use of highly polar capillary columns (e.g., 100 m SP-2560 or CP-Sil 88)
• Stringent procedures for internal standards/correction factors
• Detailed calibration and system suitability checks for GC instruments
• Specific injector/detector temperature programs and sample handling
• Explicit calculation formulas for area % and mass quantification
• Clear procedures for distinguishing cis/trans and positional fatty acid isomers

Who Should Comply?

• Edible oil manufacturers and processors
• Analytical services and contract testing labs
• Third-party food composition verifiers
• Food safety inspection and regulatory authorities
• Food retailers and quality assurance teams

Practical Implementation

Adopting prEN ISO 12966-4 helps organizations reliably quantify FAME profiles, including trans fatty acids, supporting nutritional claims, authenticity verification, and detection of adulteration or process-induced changes.

Notable Changes from Previous Version

• Extended FAME separation range (C4 to C24)
• Addition of ruminant fats to the scope
• New quantification approaches: by area (%) and by mass (g/100g) using advanced internal standards
• Expanded chromatographic performance requirements and column specifications
• Annex E covers the standardized expression of FAME composition in vegetable oils

Key highlights:

• Gold-standard methodology for FAME analysis using capillary GC
• Enhanced separation of challenging cis/trans and positional isomers
• Improved reliability for food labeling and regulatory compliance

Access the full standard: View prEN ISO 12966-4 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Implications for Food Industry Stakeholders

Timely adoption of these updated standards is essential for:

• Alignment with international trade and regulatory frameworks: National and transnational food safety laws increasingly reference ISO and CEN standards in regulatory controls, border inspections, and trade requirements.
• Consistent, defensible results: Uniform methods reduce test result disputes and facilitate clear communication of quality benchmarks across supply chains.
• Risk mitigation: Adherence reduces the likelihood of product recalls, labeling violations, and reputational damage.

Compliance Considerations and Timelines

• Organizations should map new requirements against current laboratory SOPs, ideally conducting controlled implementation trials and proficiency testing.
• Check for specific national adoption or referencing in food law or procurement contracts.
• For prEN ISO 12966-4, confirm which version is referenced in customer or regulatory protocols while transitioning to the new edition.

Benefits of Adopting These Standards

• Provides assurance to customers and authorities that analytical data is globally recognized
• Supports exports with harmonized laboratory certification
• Facilitates accurate nutritional labeling, marketing claims, and traceability

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Regulatory action (warnings, fines, withdrawal)
• Rejected consignments in international trade
• Loss of consumer trust or certification status
• Increased business interruption costs

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements Across the Standards

• Sample integrity: Both standards stress careful sampling, storage, and handling to prevent bias or degradation.
• Calibration and quality control: Use of certified reference materials and internal standards is mandatory for accurate quantitation and instrument validation.
• Documentation: Detailed test reports and method validation records are needed for traceability and compliance audits.

Implementation Best Practices

1. Update laboratory methods and SOPs according to the new standard clauses.
2. Train laboratory staff on new extraction or chromatographic protocols, including data reporting changes.
3. Participate in interlaboratory comparison/proficiency testing using new methods to benchmark performance.
4. Engage with suppliers to ensure access to required reference standards, certified reagents, and appropriate column technology.
5. Document methodology changes for regulatory and certification bodies.

Testing and Certification Considerations

• Validate the new methods within your lab (in-house or third-party certification)
• Calibrate GC equipment according to the latest conditions and column requirements
• Archive method verification data for compliance inspections

Conclusion / Next Steps

The November 2025 standards for food analysis—ISO 14156:2025 and prEN ISO 12966-4—mark a significant step forward in dairy and edible oil/lipid laboratory practice. Industry professionals are strongly encouraged to:

• Review and integrate the new requirements into laboratory and production quality systems
• Engage technical staff in method training and proficiency trialing
• Collaborate with supply chain partners to ensure consistent application
• Monitor updates at iTeh Standards to stay current with ongoing revision cycles

By adopting these guidelines, your organization will not only meet today’s compliance demands, but also ensure product quality, safety, and market access in an ever-evolving global food landscape.

Ready to explore these standards in detail? Follow the links to the full documents or leverage iTeh Standards’ consultation tools for implementation support and further sector standards.