Overview
SIST EN ISO 22579:2021 defines an internationally harmonized method for the determination of fructans-including inulin-type fructans, oligofructose, and fructooligosaccharides-in both infant formula and adult nutritional products (powder and liquid). This standard utilizes high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) after enzymatic treatment to accurately quantify fructan content in nutritional matrices prepared for consumption, covering fructan concentrations from 0.03 g/100 g to 5.0 g/100 g.
Adopted by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST), this standard ensures consistency and reproducibility in nutritional analysis for food safety, product labelling, and regulatory compliance, aligning with global ISO and European (EN) requirements.
Key Topics
- Scope of Method: Applies to both infant formula and adult nutritionals in powder and liquid formats, ensuring broad applicability across diverse nutritional products.
- Fructan Determination: Focuses on inulin-type fructans, leveraging specific enzyme treatments to break down and isolate fructans for accurate quantification.
- Analytical Technique: Uses HPAEC-PAD, a state-of-the-art chromatographic method, following sample preparation with precise enzymatic hydrolysis to convert fructans into detectable sugars.
- Validation and Precision:
- Validated through collaborative multi-laboratory and single-laboratory studies for various product types and fructan levels.
- Proven repeatability and reproducibility, providing confidence in data for regulatory and quality control purposes.
- Sample Matrix Compatibility: Supports analysis of milk-based, partially hydrolyzed milk-based, soy-based, and ready-to-feed products.
Applications
Adopting SIST EN ISO 22579:2021 offers significant benefits across the food and nutrition industry:
- Quality Assurance & Product Formulation: Enables manufacturers of infant formula and adult nutritionals to verify and substantiate fructan content, supporting nutritional claims and optimizing formulations.
- Regulatory Compliance: Facilitates meeting EU and international labelling regulations, including requirements for declared fructan and dietary fiber levels.
- Food Safety & Traceability: Strengthens analytical traceability and documentation, crucial for food safety audits, supplier verification, and market access.
- Research & Development: Supports R&D by providing a reliable method for analyzing prebiotic ingredients and dietary fiber in new product development.
- Third-party and Official Testing: Used by control laboratories and official testing agencies for assessing the accuracy of labelled nutritive values and detecting product adulteration.
Related Standards
For broader context and harmonized practices, consider these related standards:
- ISO 22579:2020: The global reference for this analytical method, fully adopted as SIST EN ISO 22579:2021.
- AOAC Official Method 2016.14: Equivalent method for fructans in infant formula and adult nutritionals.
- ISO/IDF Standards on Dairy Product Analysis: Relevant for laboratories specializing in milk-based nutritional products.
- Codex Alimentarius Guidelines: Reference documents for definitions in infant formula and follow-up formula composition.
- ISO 24276: General requirements for food product testing laboratories.
By following the procedures and protocols established in SIST EN ISO 22579:2021, food businesses and analytical laboratories ensure accurate fructan measurement in infant formula and adult nutritionals, reinforcing product quality, consumer safety, and global market trust.
