Food safety is a commonly shared, global concern that has a direct influence on public health along with the consumer confidence.
To accurately and efficiently tackle the obstacles that may occur in the field of food safety, testing methodologies used must be accurate yet reproducible. Moreover, it is preferred if the techniques are recognized on an international level.
A very prominent and authoritative organisations in this domain is the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) International.
Methods complying with AOAC have stood as the standard of accuracy and reliability, providing food safety professionals with standards that are accepted worldwide.
Introduction to AOAC International and Role in Food Safety
AOAC international is a globally recognized organisation eversince it came into being back in 1884. It has since been extremely committed to developing strategies that are validated to ensure no compromises are made on the quality and safety of consumable products. Moreover, AOAC methods undergo stringent testing.
The Major Roles of AOAC international
1- Validation methods: AOAC utilises a performance-tested method (PTM) along with official methods of analysis also known as OMA for the purpose of certification.
2- Supporting the regulatory compliance: AOAC methodologies are very commonly referred by prominent regulatory agencies such as EFSA, USDA and more.
These organisations secure that laboratories and manufacturers have the desired tools to comply with the food safety laws.
3- Development of analytical methods
AOAC international provides analytical methods that aim at identifying and quantifying contaminants, nutrients along with other components with in food and other related items.
These techniques are validated and then utilised by agencies, laboratories and industries throughout the globe.
4- Targeting the arising challenges
AOAC has always stayed ahead of the different arising or emerging food safety challenges. It develops new techniques to identify allergens, contaminants along with other potential disease causing threats.
In addition to this, it provides a strong support to innovation in technology so that modern challenges can be tackled.
Modern Challenges in Food Safety Testing
In the current times, the food supply chain has become increasingly complicated. This has accompanied a number of different challenges in the field of food safety testing.
Some of these problems have been listed below:
1- New and Emerging Contaminants
Contaminants in the form of microplastics, newly emerging pathogens, endocrine-disrupting chemicals are a great risk to food safety.
2- The Consumed Demand for Transparency
Current consumers demand an in-depth information regarding food products – from their origin, to the diverse processing methods to safety measures.
Accurate and innovative testing techniques promise a significant role in coming up to these expectations.
3- Regulatory Stringency
Regulatory bodies are transitioning towards stringent food safety regulations as it is the need of hour. This is why they demand manufacturers to adopt to the methods that are both valid and standard.
4- Climate Change
The effects of climate change have also influenced agricultural practices. This has lead to a surge in the occurrence of toxins such as mycotoxins.
AOAC-Compliant Testing Methods
AOAC-compliant food testing techniques are able to tackle these problems through validated analytical techniques.
Some of the AOAC-compliant testing methods have been discussed below:
1- Chemical Contaminant Testing
This is mainly done to rule out the presence of chemical contaminants. The chemical contaminants can be in the form of mycotoxins, pesticides or heavy metals.
Some of the techniques used include:
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
This is done to rule out heavy metals in the form of lead, cadmium or arsenic. - High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
This is very useful for identifying as well as measuring the microbial load of mycotoxins, such as ochratoxins.
2- Microbial Testing
This method has the potential to detect harmful microorganisms. For example: Listeria and E. Coli.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
PCR methods enable rapid and effective pathogen detection. - Immunoassays
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) allow for a very quick yet effective detection of microbial antigens.
3- Allergen Testing
This technique guarantees that food products are free of allergens such as gluten, dairy and more.
The techniques used for the detection of allergens include:
- ELISA: The AOAC-verified kits are highly sensitive to the detection of allergenic proteins.
- Mass Spectrometers: These allow for a precise and accurate quantification of the allergenic compounds.
Role of CMDC Labs in the Field of Advancing Food Safety
CMDC labs are leading when it comes to AOAC-compliant food safety testing. Through their top-notch facilities, innovative technologies and a team of highly capable and skilled professionals, CMDC labs are able to approach the modern food safety problems very effectively.
Some of the key contributions of CMDC labs have been listed below:
1- Comprehensive and detailed testing services
2- Adhering to the AOAC standards
3- Personalized and customized solutions
4- Quick turnaround timing
5- Collaboration with academic institutions for research and innovation
