The certification of SRM 1546 - Meat Homogenate, a new reference material for nutrients in a high protein, high fat matrix

In response to reference material needs expressed by the food industry and government regulators, the National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST) has developed a new Standard Reference Material (SRM) consisting of a canned meat product with certified and reference values for a large number of constituents. SRM 1546 Meat Homogenate consists of a mixture of finely ground pork and chicken prepared and canned by a commercial process. NIST d etermined the concentration levels of cholesterol, sodium, calcium, iron, a nd seven fatty acids in this SRM using well defined methods and procedures. These analytes as well as 34 other constituents or properties were determi ned in an interlaboratory comparison exercise involving 21 laboratories, mo st of which are associated with the National Food Processors Association (N FPA) Food Industry Analytical Chemists Subcommittee (FIACS). From statistic al analysis of the data, NIST assigned certified concentrations for the ele ven analytes measured at NIST and reference concentrations for the proximat es, six additional fatty acids, seven minerals, and seven water-soluble vit amins. Information values without uncertainties are provided for the concen trations of six additional constituents for which the uncertainties could n ot adequately be assessed. SRM 1546 will provide Laboratories with a means to evaluate the accuracy of the methods they use to assign nutrient levels to processed meats and similar products.