ISO/TC 34 - Food products

This document specifies requirements for rubbed form of dried sumac (Rhus coriaria, family Anacardiaceae). Recommendations relating to storage and transport conditions are given in Annex A.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the content of the total glucosinolates in rapeseeds (colza) using visible spectrometry to determine the glucose released from glucosinolates by hydrolysis.

This document specifies a protocol for the evaluation and validation of alternative quantitative methods of milk analysis. This document is also applicable for the validation of new alternative methods where, due to a limited number of operational instruments, the execution of an interlaboratory study and ISO 8196-1 | IDF 128-1 is not feasible. The protocol is applicable to milk parameters such as, for example, fat, protein, lactose, urea and somatic cells in milk. It can also be extended to other parameters. This document also establishes the general principles of a procedure for granting international approvals for the performance of the alternative methods. These principles are based on the validation protocol defined in this document.

This document specifies a method for the determination of crude ash of animal feeding stuffs.

This document contains information regarding the tea cultivation, manufacture (including processing and grinding) and sensory analysis of the tea referred to as “matcha tea” in international trade. It provides an internationally agreed definition of matcha tea based on the plant source, cultivation and production methods used. These are important for the physical, chemical and sensory characteristics of matcha tea. It does not apply to flavoured matcha tea, blended matcha tea, or decaffeinated or soluble extracts of matcha tea. NOTE Images of matcha tea and the tencha tea leaf are given in Annex A. Images of the cultivation and processing of the tencha tea leaf are given in Annex B.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the fat content of all types of cheese and processed cheese products containing lactose of below 5 % (mass fraction) of non-fat solids, and all types of caseins and caseinates. The method is not applicable to fresh cheese types containing, for example, fruits, syrup or muesli. For such products, the Schmid-Bondzynski-Ratzlaff (SBR) principle is not applicable due to high concentrations of sugars. For these products, the method using the Weibull-Berntrop principle (see ISO 8262-3 | IDF 124-3) is appropriate.

This document specifies general criteria for development, validation and use of nucleic acid analytical methods based on the isothermal polymerase chain reaction (isoPCR). It provides additional information and guidance for specific isoPCR technologies. This document is applicable to food, feed, plant matrices and their propagules, plant pathogens, and animals in which amplification of a specific biomolecular target sequence is required.

This document specifies a method for the determination of cadmium (Cd) in cereals. It is applicable to rice, brown rice, wheat and maize by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after extraction with diluted nitric acid (HNO3). The limit of quantification is 0,002 mg/kg; it is approximate and dependent on the sample matrix as well as on the instrument conditions.

This document specifies the requirements for instant tea in solid form. This document does not apply to: a) instant tea containing non-tea carbohydrates as bulking or filling agents (normally referred to as “filled instant tea”); b) preparations of instant tea containing added aromatic material unless these instant teas are derived exclusively from the plant Camellia sinensis; c) decaffeinated instant tea; d) instant tea derived from other forms of tea including herbal teas or infusions.

This document specifies requirements for the installation, maintenance, temperature calibration and temperature performance testing of standard thermal cyclers and real-time thermal cyclers. It is applicable to the detection of microorganisms as well as any other applications in the food chain using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. This document has been established for food testing, but is also applicable to other domains using thermal cyclers (e.g. environmental, human health, animal health, forensic testing).

This document gives guidance on the sample preparation of fresh cheese, (semi)soft cheese, (semi)hard cheese, processed cheese and whey cheese for physical and chemical analysis, including analysis by applying instrumental methods. This document describes the (sub)sampling, and sample preparation steps carried out after sampling according to ISO 707 | IDF 50 and prior to method-specific sample preparations, e.g. as with analytical methods listed in References [2] to [22]. NOTE Analysis on volatile substances, minor components or allergens can require additional precautionary measures in sample preparation in order to avoid loss of or contamination with one or more target analytes.

This document specifies general requirements for DNA sequencing method performance in the detection and identification of animal species in food and feed products. Performance requirements are limited to Sanger and next generation sequencing (NGS), including second and third generation sequencing, for analysis of single species products and multispecies products. This document is applicable to DNA sequences for mammals, birds, fish, molluscs, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles and insects, and to the validation of the applicable methods. Methods for DNA species quantification are not considered under the scope of this document.

This document specifies the requirements and test methods for concentrated date juice.

This document defines terms for meat and meat products. It is applicable to the processing, trade and storage of meat and meat products.

This document specifies a method for the determination of melamine and cyanuric acid with liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method has been validated in an interlaboratory study via the analysis of spiked samples of milk-based infant formula, soy-based infant formula, milk powder, whole milk, soy drink and milk chocolate ranging from 0,71 mg/kg to 1,43 mg/kg for melamine and 0,57 mg/kg to 1,45 mg/kg for cyanuric acid. The limits of quantification (LOQ) for melamine and cyanuric acid in food are 0,05 mg/kg and 0,25 mg/kg, respectively. The upper limit of the working range is up to 10 mg/kg for melamine and up to 25 mg/kg for cyanuric acid.

This document specifies the requirements for frozen surimi and the test methods for its quality control. It also specifies the requirements of packaging, marking, storage and transportation. This document is applicable to tropical and cold-water surimi.

This document gives guidelines for assessing the overall performance of a quantitative descriptive panel and the performance of each panel member. This document is applicable to the validation of the training of individual assessors or panels, as well as to the performance monitoring of established panels. This document does not apply to the panel performance for descriptive methods where the individual scores of each assessor are not recorded, where there is no single list of attributes that is common to all the assessors, or where dominance rather than intensity is measured. Consequently, the performance of descriptive panels using methods such as consensus profile, free-choice profile, flash profile and temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) are out of scope. The methods specified in this document are for monitoring and assessing the ability of a panel and its assessors to discriminate between products, the agreement between assessors of the same panel and the repeatability of these assessors in their intensity scoring. Reproducibility, including both the comparison between panels and the comparison within the same panel of several evaluations conducted under different conditions (i.e. separated in time), is out of scope of this document. The methods specified in this document can be used, in full or a selection only, by the panel leader to appraise continuously the performance of panels or individual assessors. The methods listed are not exhaustive and other appropriate methods can also be used.

Le présent document spécifie les exigences de production et sanitaires applicables aux produits fermentés à base de viande et établit une série de méthodes d’essai destinées à maîtriser la qualité des produits fermentés à base de viande. Il spécifie également les exigences de transport, de stockage, d’emballage et d’étiquetage. Le présent document est applicable aux produits fermentés à base de viande (du type prêt à consommer), notamment la saucisse fermentée, le jambon sec fermenté et d’autres produits fermentés à base de viande. Il est également applicable à la production de viande fermentée et aux relations commerciales.

This document specifies pre-slaughter requirements, operating procedures and requirements of pig slaughtering, storage and other requirements. This document is applicable to the slaughtering operation of pigs. For some categories of pigs (e.g. piglets, breeding pigs), other operating procedures can be applied.

This document describes general requirements, procedures and performance criteria for evaluating the content of genetically modified (GM) seeds/grains in a lot by a group testing strategy that includes qualitative analysis of sub-sampled groups followed by statistical evaluation of the results. This document is applicable to group testing strategy estimating the GM content on a percentage seed/grain basis for purity estimation, testing towards a given reject/accept criterion and for cases where seed/grain lots are carrying stacked events. This document is not applicable to processed products. NOTE Description of the use of group testing strategy are available in References [1], [7], [8], [18], [19] and [20].

This document specifies the liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of chloramphenicol content of muscle tissue of meat, including livestock and poultry. This document specifies the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of chloramphenicol content of muscle tissue, casing, liver of meat and meat products, including livestock and poultry. This document specifies LC-MS/MS as the reference method. The LC method is suitable for the determination of chloramphenicol content greater than 6,5 mg/kg. LC-MS/MS is suitable for the determination of chloramphenicol content greater than 0,1 μg/kg. Test samples which have deteriorated cannot be analysed with this method.

This document specifies a horizontal method for the enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci by counting the colonies obtained on a solid medium (rabbit plasma fibrinogen agar medium) after aerobic incubation at 34 °C to 38 °C (see Reference [10]). This document is applicable to: — products intended for human consumption; — products intended for animal feeding; — environmental samples in the area of food and feed production and handling; — samples from the primary production stage. This horizontal method was originally developed for the examination of all samples belonging to the food chain. Because of the large variety of products in the food chain, it is possible that this horizontal method is not appropriate in every detail for all products. Nevertheless, it is expected that the required modifications are minimized so that they do not result in a significant deviation from this horizontal method. Based on the information available at the time of publication of this document, this method is not considered to be (fully) suited to the examination of fermented products or other products containing technological flora based on Staphylococcus spp. (e.g. S. xylosus) (such as cheeses made from raw milk and certain raw meat products) likely to be contaminated by: — staphylococci forming atypical colonies on a Baird-Parker agar medium; — background flora that can obscure the colonies being sought. Nevertheless, both ISO 6888-1 and this document are given equivalent status.

This document specifies a horizontal method for the enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci by counting the colonies obtained on a solid medium (Baird-Parker medium)[10] after aerobic incubation at 34 °C to 38 °C and coagulase confirmation. This document is applicable to: — products intended for human consumption; — products intended for animal feeding; — environmental samples in the area of food and feed production, handling, and — samples from the primary production stage. This horizontal method was originally developed for the examination of all samples belonging to the food chain. Because of the large variety of products in the food chain, it is possible that this horizontal method is not appropriate in every detail for all products. Nevertheless, it is expected that the required modifications are minimized so that they do not result in a significant deviation from this horizontal method. Based on the information available at the time of publication of this document, this method is not considered to be (fully) suited to the examination of fermented products or other products containing technological flora based on Staphylococcus spp (e.g. S. xylosus) (such as cheeses made from raw milk and certain raw meat products) likely to be contaminated by: — staphylococci forming atypical colonies on a Baird-Parker agar medium; — background flora that can obscure the colonies being sought. Nevertheless, both this document and ISO 6888-2 are given equivalent status.

This document specifies a detection method using thin-layer chromatography and a determination method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for synthetic colouring agents in meat and meat products. This document specifies the HPLC method as the reference method. This document is applicable to meat and meat products, including livestock and poultry products. The method using thin-layer chromatography can detect the following colouring agents: Tartrazine, Patent Blue V, Quinoline Yellow, Indigotine, Sunset Yellow FCF, Brilliant Black PN, Amaranth, Black 7984, Ponceau 4R, Fast Green FCF, Erythrosine, Blue VRS. Synonyms and identity numbers of these colouring agents are listed in Annex A. The plant colours and plant extracts which have been observed not to interfere with this method are listed in B.1. Natural colours which in some cases have been shown to interfere with this method are listed in B.2. The method using HPLC can detect the following colouring agents: Tartrazine, Allura Red AC, Amaranth, Brilliant Blue FCF, Ponceau 4R, New Red, Sunset Yellow FCF, Carmoisine, Erythrosine, Indigotine. Chromatograms of these standard reference colours are shown in Annex D.

This document describes general workflows and protocols for the validation and the verification of qualitative screening tests for the detection of residues of veterinary drugs in liquid milk (raw, pasteurized, UHT and reconstituted milk powders and whey protein extracts) including biological methods. This guideline does not cover the validation of residue analysis by HPLC, UHPLC or LC-MS/MS. This document is intended to be useful for manufacturers of screening test kits, laboratories validating screening methods or tests, competent authorities and dairies or end users of reagents or tests for the detection of veterinary drug residues in milk products. This document facilitates and improves the validation and verification of screening methods. The goals of this document are a harmonization in validation of methods or test kits in order for all stakeholders to have full trust in the result of residue screening and to limit the overlap and multiplication of validation work in different laboratories by sharing the validation results generated by an independent laboratory. Furthermore, a harmonized validation and verification procedure allows for comparison of the performance of different screening methods. This document does not imply that all end users are bound to perform all verification work proposed. The verification of the correct use of reagents/kits for the detection of antimicrobials is not part of the scope of this document.

This document specifies a rapid procedure for the simultaneous determination of 2-MCPD esters (bound 2-MCPD), 3‐MCPD esters (bound 3‐MCPD) and glycidyl esters (bound glycidol) in a single assay, based on alkaline catalysed ester cleavage and derivatization of cleaved (free) analytes with phenylboronic acid (PBA) prior to GC-MS/MS analysis. Glycidyl ester overestimation is corrected by addition of an isotopic labelled ester bound 3-MCPD which allows the quantification of 3-MCPD induced glycidol during the procedure. This method is applicable to solid and liquid fats and oils. This document also applies to animal fats and used frying oils and fats, but these matrices were not included in the validation. For all three analytes the limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0,1 mg/kg and the limit of detection (LOD) is 0,03 mg/kg. Milk and milk products (or fat coming from milk and milk products), infant formulas, emulsifiers, free fatty acids and other fats- and oils-derived matrices are excluded from the scope of this document.

This document specifies three methods for the determination of the total phosphorous content of all kinds of meat and meat products, including poultry and livestock: the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method; the spectrometric method; the gravimetric method. For the ICP-OES method, the limit of detection (LOD) is 1,0 mg/kg and the limit of quantification (LOQ) is 3,0 mg/kg if the mass of the test portion is 0,5 g and the constant volume is 50 ml.

This document specifies the spectrophotometer method and the light absorption microplate reader method for the determination of the free L-(+)-glutamic acid content of meat and meat products. This document is applicable to meat and meat products, including livestock and poultry products.

This document presents the description and the results of the three studies conducted by United Kingdom, France and Germany related to grain sampling in order to define a harmonized sampling protocol for official controls. These results had been used to draft ISO 24333.

This document specifies a procedure for the detection of a DNA sequence present in a genetically modified linseed (Linum usitatissimum) line (event FP967, also named as “CDC Triffid”). For this purpose, extracted DNA is used in a real-time PCR and the genetic modification (GM) is specifically detected by amplification of a 105 bp DNA sequence representing the transition between the nopaline synthase gene terminator (Tnos) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the dihydrofolate reductase gene (dfrA1) from a Class 1 integron of Escherichia coli. The method described is applicable for the analysis of DNA extracted from foodstuffs. It can also be suitable for the analysis of DNA extracted from other products such as feedstuffs and seeds. The application of this method requires the extraction of an adequate amount of amplifiable DNA from the relevant matrix for the purpose of analysis.

This document specifies a method for the semi-quantitative analysis of oils, fats and oil/fat-related samples (deodistillates). It is applicable to the screening of oils, fats and oil/fat-related samples to obtain main (e.g. triglycerides) and minor (e.g. sterols, sterol esters, tocopherols, wax esters, fatty alcohols, glycerol) component information in one single analysis. For a truly quantitative analysis of pre-identified compound classes, specific methods are more appropriate. The method can also be used as a useful qualitative screening tool for the relative comparison of sample compositions.

This document specifies a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method for the determination of content of the four major theaflavins of tea. It is applicable to both leaf and instant black and oolong teas. The method is currently not validated for ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages.

This document specifies two methods for the determination of the melting point in open capillary tubes, commonly known as the slip melting point, of animal and vegetable fats and oils (referred to as fats hereinafter). — Method A is only applicable to animal and vegetable fats which are solid at ambient temperature and which do not exhibit pronounced polymorphism. — Method B is applicable to all animal and vegetable fats which are solid at ambient temperature and is the method to be used for fats whose polymorphic behaviour is unknown. For the determination of the slip melting point of palm oil samples the method given in Annex A shall be used. NOTE 1 If applied to fats with pronounced polymorphism, method A will give different and less satisfactory results than method B. NOTE 2 Fats which exhibit pronounced polymorphism are principally cocoa butter and fats containing appreciable quantities of 2-unsaturated, 1,3-saturated triacylglycerols.

This document establishes the minimum specifications for rice (Oryza sativa L.) that is subject to international trade. It is applicable to husked rice and milled rice (aromatic and not aromatic), parboiled or not, intended for direct human consumption. It does not apply to other products derived from rice nor to waxy rice (glutinous rice).

This document specifies a method for applying magnitude estimation to the evaluation of sensory attributes. The methodology specified covers the training of assessors, and obtaining magnitude estimations as well as their statistical interpretation.

This document defines terms for classifying and assessing green tea for commerce.

This document provides guidelines on: — how to express vitamin quantity, — the expression of different molecular forms in appropriate units, — and in some cases, vitamin activity, according to vitamers present or used in food products, in addition to the quantitative content determination obtained from ISO and CEN analytical standards. It provides information to be used as a basis for discussion between stakeholders and food control laboratories. It is not intended to be prescriptive or exhaustive.

This document specifies a method for the determination of aflatoxin M1 content in milk and milk powder. The lowest level of validation is 0,08 µg/kg for whole milk powder, i.e. 0,008 µg/l for reconstituted liquid milk. The limit of detection (LOD) is 0,05 μg/kg for milk powder and 0,005 μg/kg for liquid milk. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0,1 μg/kg for milk powder and 0,01 μg/kg for liquid milk. The method is also applicable to low-fat milk, skimmed milk, low-fat milk powder and skimmed milk powder.

This document specifies a method for the detection of Anisakidae L3 larvae commonly found in marine and anadromous fishes. The method is applicable to fresh fish and/or frozen fish, as well as lightly processed fish products, such as marinated, salted or smoked. It is also suitable for visceral organs as a confirmatory method for a visual inspection scheme. The artificial digestion method[4][5][6] is applicable to quantifying parasitic infections by estimating the number of parasites in the fish musculature and, when applied to fresh fish or lightly processed fish products (never frozen before processing), determining the viability of Anisakidae L3, which can be present. This method does not apply to determining the species or genotype of detected parasites. Final identification is made by morphological and/or molecular methods.

This document specifies a method for the detection of Anisakidae L3 larvae commonly found in marine and anadromous fishes. The method is applicable to fresh fish and/or frozen fish, as well as lightly processed fish products, such as marinated, salted or cold smoked. This method is applicable to quantifying parasitic infections by estimating the number of parasites in the fish musculature. This method does not apply to determining the species or genotype of detected parasites. Final identification is made by morphological and/or molecular methods.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the moisture and volatile matter content of oilseed meals obtained by the extraction of oil from oilseeds by pressure and/or solvent.

This document specifies requirements for the determination of the dry matter content of liquid or pasty coffee extracts by means of the sea sand method. It is applicable to liquid or pasty coffee extracts. The method is intended as a routine method.

This document gives guidelines for substantiating sensory claims on food and non-food products and their packaging for advertising consumer-packaged goods. This document differentiates sensory claims from other types of claims. It provides classification and examples of the different types of sensory claims. It highlights special issues associated with testing to substantiate sensory claims. It includes case studies and references. This document does not apply to: — specific or detailed requirements for different test methods that are used to support sensory claims; — factual claims regarding a product's country of origin, ingredients, processing and nutritional components; — factual claims regarding the technical features of the product; — claims regarding a product's health, medical or therapeutic benefits, physiological effects, structure or function benefits when consumed or applied to the human body; — claims based on instrumental assessments of the attributes or performance of a product (i.e. instrumental assessments; in this case, test methods are used in which no human participant evaluates the product and/or no human participant provides a response to a product); — claims about services (e.g. a house cleaning service, airline services, automobile services); — claims about large/slow moving consumer goods (autos, refrigerators, stoves, etc.).

The document specifies the definitions and technical criteria to be fulfilled for foods and food ingredients to be suitable for vegetarians (including ovo-lacto-, ovo- and lacto-vegetarians) or vegans as well as for food labelling and claims. It is applicable to business-to-business communication (B2B), to the food trade, and to food labelling and claims. The definitions and technical criteria apply only post-harvest/collecting. It does not apply to human safety, environmental safety, socio-economic considerations (e.g. fair trade, animal welfare), religious beliefs and the characteristics of packaging materials.

This document specifies a procedure for determining whether a perceptible sensory difference or similarity exists between samples of two products. The method is a forced-choice procedure. The method is applicable whether a difference exists in a single sensory attribute or in several attributes. The method is statistically more efficient than the duo-trio test (described in ISO 10399), but has limited use with products that exhibit strong carryover and/or lingering flavours. The method is applicable even when the nature of the difference is unknown [i.e. it determines neither the size nor the direction of difference between samples, nor is there any indication of the attribute(s) responsible for the difference]. The method is applicable only if the products are homogeneous. The method is effective for: a) determining that: either a perceptible difference results (triangle testing for difference); a perceptible difference does not result (triangle testing for similarity), when, for example, a change is made in ingredients, processing, packaging, handling or storage; b) selecting, training and monitoring assessors.

This document gives guidelines for the establishment of a conversion relationship between the results of an alternative method and an anchor method, and its verification for the quantitative determination of the microbiological quality of milk. NOTE The conversion relationship can be used a) to convert results from an alternative method to the anchor basis or b) to convert results/limits, expressed on an anchor basis, to results in units of an alternative method.

This document specifies two methods: - a reference method for the determination of the moisture content of maize grains and ground whole maize, groats, grits and maize flour, see Clause 4; - a routine method for the evaluation of the moisture content of maize in whole grains, see Clause 5. The latter is not suitable for use for experts' reports, or for calibration or checking of humidity meters, because of its significant bias to the reference method (see Table B.3).