CEN/TC 275/WG 7 - Nitrate, nitrite

This European Standard specifies a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and an ion chromatographic (IC) method for determination of the nitrate level in vegetables and vegetable products. This method is applicable for samples with a content of 25 mg/kg or greater.
It has been validated on naturally contaminated and spiked samples as beetroot juice with nitrate mass fractions of 194 mg/kg and 691 mg/kg, pureed carrots with nitrate mass fractions of 26 mg/kg and 222 mg/kg and with iceberg lettuce with nitrate mass fractions of 623 mg/kg and 3 542 mg/kg.

This European Prestandard specifies an ion-exchange chromatographic method for the determination of the nitrate and nitrite contents of meat products having a nitrate content of 50 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg as nitrate ions and a nitrite content of approximately 40 mg/kg as nitrite ion. Note: Validation data obtained from interlaboratory studies show that this method may also be applied to the determination of nitrate in vegetables and baby food, see (1), (2). Furthermore, the method may be applied for the determination of nitrite in meat products having a nitrite content of greater than 40 mg/kg.

This European Prestandard specifies a spectrometric method for the determination of nitrate and nitrite content of meat products and has been validated for a total nitrite and nitrate content of 25 mg/kg as nitrite ion. Note: Experiences have shown that the methods is also applicable for total nitrite and nitrate content for 10 mg/kg up to 50 mg/kg as nitrite ion. For further information on applicability, see (1).

This European Standard provides a summary of each scope and principle and describes general considerations for the applicability of the following parts of EN 12014.

This European Standard specifies a continuous flow method (CF-method) for the determination of nitrate content of vegetables and vegetable products having a nitrate content of 900 mg/kg to 5200 mg/kg (calculated as nitrate ion). Note: Experiences have shown that the method may also applied for vegetables and vegetable products having a nitrate content of greater than 50 mg/kg (calculated as nitrate ion).

This European Standard provides a summary of each scope and principle and describes general considerations for the applicability of the following parts of EN 12014.

This European Standard specifies an enzymatic method for the determination of vegetable-containing food for babies and infants °1], °2]. This method is applicable to nitrate contents in the range of 50 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg. °1] c is the substance concentration °2] These reagents are included in commercially available test kits. If these kits are used, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

This European Standard specifies a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (IC) method for the determination of nitrate contents of vegetables and vegetable products. This method is applicable to nitrate contents in the range of 50 mg/kg to 3000 mg/kg.

This European Prestandard specifies a spectrometric method for the determination of nitrate and nitrite content of meat products and has been validated for a total nitrite and nitrate content of 25 mg/kg as nitrite ion. Note: Experiences have shown that the methods is also applicable for total nitrite and nitrate content for 10 mg/kg up to 50 mg/kg as nitrite ion. For further information on applicability, see (1).

This European Prestandard specifies an ion-exchange chromatographic method for the determination of the nitrate and nitrite contents of meat products having a nitrate content of 50 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg as nitrate ions and a nitrite content of approximately 40 mg/kg as nitrite ion. Note: Validation data obtained from interlaboratory studies show that this method may also be applied to the determination of nitrate in vegetables and baby food, see (1), (2). Furthermore, the method may be applied for the determination of nitrite in meat products having a nitrite content of greater than 40 mg/kg.