MAJOR NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF FOOD

Objective

The main nutritional properties of a food are defined by its major organic components: total protein, total fat, carbohydrate (starch and sugars) and dietary fibre. Knowledge of the contents of major elements is also important. Accurate determination of these components has become more important because of the greater demand for reliable food labelling and the intracommunity trade in food products, but collaborative studies have shown that even the most experienced laboratories can make significant errors.

A preliminary intercomparison of methods identified many of the methodological weaknesses. Five reference materials (full cream milk powder, wholemeal flour, rye flour, haricot beans and lyophilized pork muscle) have been prepared and shown to be homogeneous and stable and have been certified with respect to total nitrogen protein, ash, total fat, dietary fibre, lactose and calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, chloride and phosphorus. Indicative values for starch, free sugars and dietary fibre by the Englyst method were also established. Indicative values for several important vitamins were determined.
The main nutritional properties of a food are defined by its major organic components; total protein, total fat, carbohydrate (starch and sugars) and dietary fibre. Knowledge of the contents of major elements such as Ca, K, P and Na is also important.
Accurate determination of these components has become more important because of the greater demand for reliable food labelling (Directives 79/112/EEC and 90/496/EEC) and, the implications for intra-community trade in food products.
Although routinely determined in industry and for nutritional purposes, collaborative studies have shown that even the most experienced laboratories can make significant errors.

Programme(s)

• FP2-BCR 4 - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of applied metrology and chemical analysis (Community Bureau of Reference - BCR), 1988-1992

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

RIKILT

Address

6700 AE Wageningen
Netherlands

Participants (26)

Agricultural Research Center of Finland

Finland

Address

31600 Jokioinen

Agricultural University

Netherlands

Address

12,De Dreijen
6703 BC Wageningen

Bundesforschungsanstalt für Getreide- und Kartoffelverarbeitung

Germany

Address

Schützenberg 12
32756 Detmold

COZ - Netherlands Controlling Authority for milk products

Netherlands

Address

3850 AG Leusden

FEDERAL RESEARCH CENTRE FOR NUTRITION

Germany

Address

Haid-und-neu-strasse 9
76131 Karlsruhe

Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques de l'Etat de Gembloux

Belgium

Address

2,Passage Des Déportés
5030 Gembloux

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)

France

Address

39800 Poligny

Institut Technique des Céréales et des Fourrages

France

Address

16 Rue Nicolas Forin
75013 Paris

Institute of Food Research

United Kingdom

Address

Norwich Laboratory Colney Lane
NR4 7UA Norwich

Institute of Food Research

United Kingdom

Address

Norwich Laboratory Colney Lane
NR4 7UA Norwich

L.N.E.T.I.

Portugal

Address

1/11,Rua Vale Formoso De Baixo
1900 Lisboa

Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC)

United Kingdom

Address

Queen's Road
TW11 0LY Teddington

Milchwirtschaftliche Untersuchungs- und Versuchsanstalt Kempten

Germany

Address

Hirnbeinstraße 10
87435 Kempten

Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo

Spain

Address

Carretera Majadahonda - Pozuelo, Km 2,2
28220 Majadahonda (Madrid)

Ministère des Affaires Economiques

Belgium

Address

17A,rue De La Senne
1000 Bruxelles

NIZO

Netherlands

Address

6710 BA Ede

National Food Administration

Sweden

Address

5,Hamnesplanaden
75126 Uppsala

National Food Agency of Denmark

Denmark

Address

19,Mörkhöj Bygade
2860 Söborg

Plasmon Dietetici Alimentari SpA

Italy

Address

Via Cadolini 26
20137 Milano

RIGB-Keuringsdienst van Waren

Netherlands

Address

6201 GA Maastricht

Rijkszuivelstation

Belgium

Address

370,Brusselsesteenweg
9090 Melle

Statens Mejeriforsog

Denmark

Address

56,Roskildevej
3400 Hillerod

TECAN AG

Switzerland

Address

80,Feldbachstrasse
8634 Hombrechtikon

TNO-CIVO Institutes in Zeist

Netherlands

Address

3700 AC Zeist

Unilever UK Central Resources Ltd

United Kingdom

Address

Colworth House
MK44 1LQ Sharnbrook

Università Ambientale

Italy

Address

Campo Della Lana 601
30125 Venezia