Nutrition labelling compliance test
Appendix 4 - Laboratory issues
Methods of analysis
CFIA conducts laboratory tests to verify the accuracy of nutrition information. Methods of analysis currently used by the CFIA appear in the table below. The CFIA does not require other laboratories to use these methods.
It is recommended that manufacturers rely on laboratory testing to verify their own label declarations. The methods of analysis recommended are those published in the most recent version of the Official methods of analysis of AOAC International wherever possible. Other collaboratively studied methods such as those published by the American Oil Chemists' Society, American Association of Cereal Chemists, ISO, etc. would also be considered appropriate. In house or journal methods with adequate method validation data are another possible option for method selection. Methods should be validated for the food matrix being analyzed.
Laboratory accreditation
Laboratories in Canada are accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) or the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) and not by CFIA. Accredited laboratories will have a list of methods as part of their scope of accreditation. These methods are those considered by SCC and CALA during the accreditation process. When choosing accredited laboratories, the tests provided should be contained in their scope of accreditation. Laboratories should also strive to subscribe to proficiency testing schemes for each method listed in their scope.
Choice of laboratory
CFIA recommends the selection of laboratories that are accredited to ISO 17025 standards by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) or the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA). CFIA cannot impose the use of only SCC accredited labs but recommends them as a first choice. ISO 17025 accredited laboratories from other countries would also be recommended. Company quality assurance laboratories using validated methods can also be used.
A list of accredited laboratories can be accessed through the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) or the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) web sites.
Table: Methods of analysis used by CFIA - Nutrition Facts table information
| Nutrient Table note t | Analytical method Table note u | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | LCAQ-040: Determination of carbohydrates and calories content in foods by difference Reference: Atwater Factors |
Application of appropriate factors to fat, protein, fibre and carbohydrate (may be adjusted for sugar alcohols and polydextrose) |
| Fat | LCAQ-034: Determination of fatty acids (C4-C24) in foods by GC-FID Reference: AOAC 996.06Table note v |
Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) |
Fatty acids:
|
LCAQ-034: Determination of fatty acids (C4-C24) in foods by GC-FID Reference: AOAC 996.06Table note v |
Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) |
| Cholesterol | LCAQ-035: Determination of cholesterol in foods by GC-FID Reference: AOAC 994.10Table note v |
Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) |
| Carbohydrate | LCAQ-040: Determination of carbohydrates and calories content in foods by difference Carbohydrate = Total solids − (ash + protein + fat) |
Carbohydrate by difference |
| Fibre | AOAC 2017.16Table note v: Total dietary fibre in foods and food ingredients rapid integrated enzymatic-gravimetric-high-pressure liquid chromatography method | Enzymatic – gravimetric / high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) |
| Sugars | LCAQ-123: Determination of 12 sugars and sugar alcohols (fructose, glucose, lactose, galactose, maltose, sucrose, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, mannose and isomaltose) in foods by HPLC-RID | HPLC with refractive index detector |
Protein |
LCAQ-098: Determination of protein in foods by combustion – Dumas principle Reference: ISO 14891 – Determination of nitrogen content using the Dumas principle |
Combustion instrument |
| LCAQ-109: Determination of fat, moisture and protein in cheese, and butter by near-infrared | Near-infrared spectroscopy | |
| Vitamin A | AOAC 2012.10Table note v: Simultaneous determination of vitamins E and A in infant formula and adult nutritionals normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography | Normal phase HPLC-DAD |
LCAQ-002: Determination of vitamin A in foods by HPLC-UV-Visible Reference: AOAC 992.04Table note v |
Normal phase HPLC-DAD | |
LCAQ-097: HPLC determination of beta-carotene in foods by HPLC-UV-Visible Reference: AOAC 2005.7Table note v |
Reversed phase HPLC-DAD | |
LCAQ-110: Determination of vitamin A in milk by HPLC-UV-Visible Reference: AOAC 2002.06Table note v |
Normal phase HPLC-DAD | |
LCAQ-124: Determination of vitamin A in fortified plant-based beverages by HPLC-UV-Visible Reference: AOAC 2002.06Table note v |
Normal phase HPLC-DAD | |
| Vitamin C | AOAC 2012.22Table note v: Vitamin C in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (LC-UV) | Reverse phase HPLC-DAD |
| Thiamin (vitamin B1) | Determination of thiamin (vitamin B1) in foods by spectrofluorimetry Reference 1: AOAC 986.27Table note v Reference 2: AOAC 942.23Table note v |
Fluorescence detection |
| Riboflavin (vitamin B2) | LCAQ-088: Determination of riboflavin (vitamin B2) in plant-based beverages and cheeses by HPLC-FLD Reference: Riboflavin (vitamin B2) in foods and vitamin preparations. Fluorometric method. AOAC International, Official methods of analysis of AOAC International, 17th edition. Chapter 45 section 45.1-08, Final action 1971. #970.65 |
Reverse phase HPLC-FLD |
| Vitamin D | LCAQ-112: Determination of vitamin D in foods by UHPLC-MS/MS Reference: AOAC 2011.11Table note v |
Reversed phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with triple quadruple (QQQ) mass spectrometer (MS/MS) |
| Vitamin E | LCAQ-094: Determination of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in foods by HPLC-FLD Reference: Determination of vitamins A (retinol) and E (alpha-tocopherol) in foods by liquid chromatography, Journal of AOAC International, 2002, Vol. 85, No. 2 |
Reversed phase HPLC with fluorescence detection |
| Iodine | AOAC 2012.15Table note v: Total iodine in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) | Microwave digestion / inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) |
Mineral nutrients:
|
LCAQ-102: Determination of minerals (Na, Ca, K, Mg, P, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo) in food by ICP-MS Reference 1: Wu, S., Feng, X., and Wittmeir, A. Microwave digestion of plant and grain reference materials in nitric acid or a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide for the determination of multi-elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 1997, 12:797-806 Reference 2: Dolan, S.P. and Capar, Stephen G. Multi-element analysis of food by microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2002, 15:593-615 |
Microwave digestion / inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) |
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