Eurofins leading world industry standards for infant formula testing
In 2008, China was rocked by a national food safety scandal when it emerged that a chemical component called melamine, which is harmful to humans and used in plastic and fertilizer production, had made its way into infant formula and milk. Of an estimated 300,000 victims affected by the compromised milk and infant formula, six babies died and an estimated 54,000 babies were hospitalised. The tragedy highlighted the importance of using the most stringent methods to test infant formula.
Having screened tens of thousands of samples for melamine levels during this crisis, Eurofins has also played a crucial role in a global initiative to overhaul, redevelop and modernise infant formula testing.
In 2010, Danone, Johnson & Johnson and Nestlé came together to form the Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals, SPIFAN, to develop a new uniform suite of stringent infant formula testing methods. Scientists from Eurofins Food Integrity and Innovation, at that time Covance Food Solutions, were chosen to lead SPIFAN, as Chair of the stakeholder panel, and to validate all new testing methods, as well as working as method developers and reviewers.
SPIFAN identified and validated a modern suite of best practice analytical test methods, the current AOAC Official methods for nutrition in infant formula and adult nutritionals. As a result, 59 new AOAC Official methods have been validated by SPIFAN, which are regarded as the world and industry standard in infant formula testing, some of them among the most accurate and precise methods ever developed.
The redeveloped tests, which are based on different methods than those used in the 1980s, are nowadays applied by most infant formula producers across the globe. These have changed the landscape of infant formula testing, and showcased Eurofins’ ability to create world-class testing standards.
For further information, please see:
https://www.aoac.org/scientific-solutions/spifan/
https://www.eurofins.com.au/food-testing/your-industry/fresh-and-value-added-dairy/