Functional foods quality control

In the final analysis, market price and sales volume are functions of the quality standards offered and the buyer s degree of confidence that the product will conform to the standards. Maintenance of buyer s confidence requires inspection to screen out all nonconforming products, or control over variability of quality during production and distribution to a degree where few, if any, products fail to meet the standards. Screening inspection of the finished product cannot improve quality it merely serves to segregate unacceptable from acceptable product, and results in loss of production capacity and costly waste and salvage. The second consideration provides the only sound basis for quality control in frozen food production and distribution. It operates on the old principle that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. ... 

Quality control is intended to monitor and evaluate the performances of both food and human processes that contribute to food quality. The basic principle of this function is the control circle that involves (1) the taking of a process sample by the analysis or measuring unit, (2) determining whether process results meet set tolerances or limits, (3) judging the character and level of any discrepancy, and (4) application of corrective action to adjust the system to an acceptable level (Figure 7.1.1). A distinction is made between measuring and analysis, whereby the first involves direct measurements (e.g., pH, temperature) and the second involves taking samples, sample preparation, and actual analysis. ... 

Many structure-function relationships of food colorants are stressed in this book, helping readers understand the effects of their biosynthesis, structures, and function modifications during food storage and processing conditions, and their influences on food quality and safety. This knowledge is necessary to control the rate of... 

Apart from routine quality control actions, additive analysis is often called upon in relation to testing additive effectiveness as well as in connection with food packaging and medical plastics, where the identities and levels of potentially toxic substances must be accurately known and controlled. Food contact plastics are regulated by maximum concentrations allowable in the plastic, which applies to residual monomers and processing aids as well as additives [64-66]. Analytical measurements provide not only a method of quality control but also a means of establishing the loss of stabilisers as a function of material processing and product ageing. 

The main external review body in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but at some later stage it may be necessary to prepare a monograph for the quality control of a new product and this would be achieved by interacting with officials from the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) in order to have a section published in the pharmacopoeia. The purpose of this chapter, therefore, is to introduce both of these organizations and provide an understanding of their basic functions. 

Acceptance criteria for precision depend very much on the type of analysis. For pharmaceutical quality control, precision of better than 1 % RSD is easily attained, while for biological samples the precision is more like 16% at the detection limit and 10% at higher concentration levels. For environmental and food samples, the precision is very much dependent on the sample matrix, the level of the analyte, and on the analytical method, being in the range of 2% to more than 20% RSD. Acceptable precision values as a function of the analyte concentration have been suggested (11) by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) peer-verified methods program (Table 25.1). 

Quality control at farms is only carried out in exceptional cases, i.e. if special interests or cases of doubts prevail. However, it is frequently done if farmers produce raw materials for baby food. In this case, controls of raw materials may be made even before harvesting a crop. For milk collection in developing countries. Nestle has many collection centers at village levels, which function similar as the receiving stations at factories. There we test basic physical/chemical quality parameters of the milk, which are important for... 

Chlorella is a freshwater, unicellular green microalga that is widely used as a food supplement in Japan and around the world. Mass commercial cultivation of Chlorella for use as a health food supplement has taken place for over 35 years, with a more recent application in mariculture feed (Iwamoto, 2004). Many strains of Chlorella can be grown heterotrophically, allowing for production of a high-quality powder without contamination. Chlorella supplements are taken in the form of tablets, capsules, liquid, or as food additives. Claims for health benefits of Chlorella include improved immune function and improved control of hypertension, fibromyalgia, and ulcerative colitis (Halperin et al, 2003). 

Monitoring is an activity common in human society. Intensive care patients in hospitals, production of pharmaceuticals and food supplies, industrial processes, and economic health are but a few examples. The purpose of monitoring is to confirm that previously estabhshed quality control conditions are being met. Monitoring for sustainable use of the planet is far more complex than monitoring for any other purpose, but the principle remains the same. All monitoring involves feedback loops that provide information about the system of concern. Expectations are that the system is functioning within ac-... 

Analysis of fatty acids (FAs) may be required for a variety of reasons. It maybe important in food process control, quality assurance, detection of adulteration, or for regulatory reasons such as labeling. In the biological field, information on the FA composition in blood and tissues may be important for nutritional and health reasons—especially for FAs of functional significance (e.g., long-chain omega-3 acids)— or for the diagnosis of some metabolic diseases. 

Vitamin B12 (cobalamine) is needed to metabolize fatty adds and amino acids and to synthesize DNA in cells. Vitamin C also has several functions. It is needed to synthesize collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, but it also acts as an antioxidant, helping to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body. Because they are eliminated in urine, a continuous daily support through diet is required. However, even foods that contain the necessary vitamins can have reduced vitamin content after storage, processing, or cooking. Therefore, many people take a multivitamin tablet to supplement their diet. To ensure that these tablets contain the labeled amounts of vitamins, there must be a quality control assay for these tablets. 

The general basis of U.S. FDA food lead control regulation and how it performs this function is spelled out in two basic statutes. These are, to a limited extent, the Food and Drug Act (F D Act) of 1906 and the 1938 FFDCA. A number of important amendments to the 1938 Act have been enacted over the years, and those of particular relevance to the topic at issue are as follows (1) the Infant Formula Act of 1980 [PL 96—359] (2) Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 [PL 103—417] (3) Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 [PL 104—170] (4) Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003 [PL 108—155] and (5) the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act of 2006 [PL 109—462]. 

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