Ebook: Sampling Procedures to Detect Mycotoxins in Agricultural Commodities

Adherence to regulatory limits for mycotoxins in agricultural commodities is important to safeguard consumers and to permit trade in affected commodities across international borders. Reliable estimates of mycotoxin concentrations are required to implement regulatory decisions on the suitability of lots of produce for consumption or trade. Effective schemes to test for mycotoxins depend not only upon sound analytical methods, but also on well designed and implemented sampling plans. This manual provides information to food analysts and regulatory officials on effective sampling plans to detect mycotoxins in food. The concepts of uncertainty and variability in mycotoxin test procedures are discussed as well as the importance of ensuring that samples are representative of the lot being sampled, and the consequences of a poorly designed sampling plan on the reliability of the measured levels of mycotoxins, possibly resulting in legal disputes and barriers to trade.

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Adherence to regulatory limits for mycotoxins in agricultural commodities is important to safeguard consumers and to permit trade in affected commodities across international borders. Reliable estimates of mycotoxin concentrations are required to implement regulatory decisions on the suitability of lots of produce for consumption or trade. Effective schemes to test for mycotoxins depend not only upon sound analytical methods, but also on well designed and implemented sampling plans. This manual provides information to food analysts and regulatory officials on effective sampling plans to detect mycotoxins in food. The concepts of uncertainty and variability in mycotoxin test procedures are discussed as well as the importance of ensuring that samples are representative of the lot being sampled, and the consequences of a poorly designed sampling plan on the reliability of the measured levels of mycotoxins, possibly resulting in legal disputes and barriers to trade.

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Adherence to regulatory limits for mycotoxins in agricultural commodities is important to safeguard consumers and to permit trade in affected commodities across international borders. Reliable estimates of mycotoxin concentrations are required to implement regulatory decisions on the suitability of lots of produce for consumption or trade. Effective schemes to test for mycotoxins depend not only upon sound analytical methods, but also on well designed and implemented sampling plans. This manual provides information to food analysts and regulatory officials on effective sampling plans to detect mycotoxins in food. The concepts of uncertainty and variability in mycotoxin test procedures are discussed as well as the importance of ensuring that samples are representative of the lot being sampled, and the consequences of a poorly designed sampling plan on the reliability of the measured levels of mycotoxins, possibly resulting in legal disputes and barriers to trade.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Introduction....Pages 1-5
Definition of a Sampling Plan....Pages 7-9
Uncertainty....Pages 11-13
Sample Selection....Pages 15-22
Sample Preparation....Pages 23-24
Analytical Quantification....Pages 25-25
Accept/Reject Limit....Pages 27-27
Random Variation....Pages 29-36
Reducing Variability of a Mycotoxin Test Procedure....Pages 37-40
Designing Mycotoxin Sampling Plans....Pages 41-47
Conclusions....Pages 49-49
References....Pages 51-53
Appendix A....Pages 55-56
Back Matter....Pages 57-58

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Adherence to regulatory limits for mycotoxins in agricultural commodities is important to safeguard consumers and to permit trade in affected commodities across international borders. Reliable estimates of mycotoxin concentrations are required to implement regulatory decisions on the suitability of lots of produce for consumption or trade. Effective schemes to test for mycotoxins depend not only upon sound analytical methods, but also on well designed and implemented sampling plans. This manual provides information to food analysts and regulatory officials on effective sampling plans to detect mycotoxins in food. The concepts of uncertainty and variability in mycotoxin test procedures are discussed as well as the importance of ensuring that samples are representative of the lot being sampled, and the consequences of a poorly designed sampling plan on the reliability of the measured levels of mycotoxins, possibly resulting in legal disputes and barriers to trade.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Introduction....Pages 1-5
Definition of a Sampling Plan....Pages 7-9
Uncertainty....Pages 11-13
Sample Selection....Pages 15-22
Sample Preparation....Pages 23-24
Analytical Quantification....Pages 25-25
Accept/Reject Limit....Pages 27-27
Random Variation....Pages 29-36
Reducing Variability of a Mycotoxin Test Procedure....Pages 37-40
Designing Mycotoxin Sampling Plans....Pages 41-47
Conclusions....Pages 49-49
References....Pages 51-53
Appendix A....Pages 55-56
Back Matter....Pages 57-58
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