The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on May 30, 2023, notified the protocol to all the laboratories to reinforce the prescribed method for fortificants testing.
The following instruction has been stated:
• Homogenization of sample -The entire sample received by the laboratory must be ground to make it homogenous before weighing the sample for analysis to prevent variation in results. Some of the fortificant to be analyzed in ppb level, for e.g. Vitamin B2 which is 0.75 mcg per Kg of Rice.
• Intermediate checks of CRMS- The laboratory should ensure the periodical testing of prepared certified reference matérials to verify their potency, stability, and necessary records of that verification should be maintained. The Lab should ensure the storage of CRMS as per the supplier recommendations/MSDS.
• Reminant Samples-The lab should preserve the remaining quantity of tested sample (fully powdered) for at least 3 months from the date of reporting in a 5 to 10 °C in refrigeration.
• Re-testing in case of complaints -If any complaints are raised against the laboratory, the control samples should be retrieved from the lab which was tested initially and re-tested in another FSSAI-notified NABL accredited laboratory.
