Need for food reference material in Latin America

Summary

Even if some Latin American countries still need to extend their capacity for food quality control, many do have good control laboratories and high quality research institutions. That makes the need for reference material in Latin America similar to that of other parts of the world.

The region has special problems related to mail and shipment delays, and to the lack of information on available reference material. It is recommended that additional reference material being made available for vitamins in food, for polar and non-polar organophosphorus pesticides in vegetables, for organophosphorus pesticide and veterinary drugs in meat etc.

Reference material should simulate real samples as closely as possible; reference samples for water should contain phthalates which in environmental samples interfere with organochlorines and reference material for organophosphates in vegetables should contain metabolites and degradation products.

It is also recommended that commercial standards for trace metals should have the production date and the guaranteed stability printed on the label. Information on reference material should be included in the methods published by AOAC, AOCS and similar publications.