Food Analysis

Question 1

Why is the analysis of food important?

Answer 1

1) Consumer trends and demand variations
2) National and International regulations
3) Safety
4) Nutrition
5) Food Standards

Question 2

What samples are analysed in the food production business?

Answer 2

Raw Material Samples
Process Control Step Samples
Finished Product Samples
Competitor Samples
Customer Complaint Samples

Question 3

Why is it important to analyse raw material samples?

Answer 3

To check whether or not the material suits your specifications and legal specifications
To check whether it is safe and authentic
To check the modification requirements

Question 4

Why is it important to analyse Process control step samples?

Answer 4

To check that the current production mechanisms are acceptable and to verify if changes need to occur.

Question 5

Why is it important to analyse finished product samples?

Answer 5

To ensure that your product meets your specifications and legal specification.
To gather nutritive data
Ensure product shelf life
Ensuring customer acceptance.
Determining how it can be improved.

Question 6

Why is it important to analyse competitor samples?

Answer 6

To see if we can learn anything from these samples

Question 7

Why is it important to analyse customer complaint samples?

Answer 7

To determine how the composition and characteristics have been altered from the ideal qualities.

Question 8

What type of properties are analysed in food?

Answer 8

The chemical composition
Physical properties
Sensory Properties
Microbial qualities

Question 9

What steps are taken in analysis?

Answer 9

1) Sampling
2) Preparation of sampling
3) Perform the Assay
4) Calculations and Interpretation

Question 10

What are the important aspects of the sampling stage?

Answer 10

Obtaining a sample that is representative of the product population (Bulk). Ensuring that there is a consistent and randomised testing of the population aswell.

Question 11

What is the main focus of preparing a sample?

Answer 11

Preparing an analyte in such a way that the desired components are able to be identified or measure.
This also requires that any interfering substances that may affect the desired analyte are removed.

Question 12

What is the focus of the assay?

Answer 12

The assay is the method by which the components present can be determined quantitatively.

Question 13

What are some important aspects of the Calculations and interpretations stage?

Answer 13

It is important that there is permanent documentation of ever result in order to have a archive that can be referred back to. It is also important to determine whether any experimental and statistical errors are affecting the result. The main focus however is to ensure that appropriate calculations are used to ensure that the data is correctly interpreted.

Question 14

What are the key things to keep in mind when selecting your method?

Answer 14

1) The objective of the assay
2) the characteristic of the method
3) The validity of the method
4) The standardised reference material

Question 15

What factors are considered from the objective of the assay?

Answer 15

We need to consider if we need a primary or secondary analysis.

Question 16

What is a primary and secondary analysis?

Answer 16

A primary analysis is the official more accurate methodologies which provide highly accurate data. Secondary analysis is the robust and efficient methodologies that provide less accurate results but at a cheaper or more efficient manner.

Question 17

Why do we need to determine the characteristics of the method?

Answer 17

To ensure that we have a robust, efficient, sensitive and cost effective methodology. It also allows us to understand the principles underlying the procedure and critical steps.

Question 18

Why do we need to determine the validity of the methodolgy?

Answer 18

We need to determine if the selected method will provide the results without interference from other sources. For example if you want to measure fats but the presence of proteins prevents the certain methodology from working then you need rethink your method.

In essence you need to ensure that the method is unaffected by the presence of other factors.

Question 19

What is the importance of standardised reference material?

Answer 19

This allows you to get your controls and reference material so that you can either calibrate your equipment and methodology or to have a comparison against your own sample.

Question 20

What is analytical chemistry?

Answer 20

Analytical chemistry involves the methods used to separate, identify and quantify.

Question 21

In analytical chemistry what is the difference between quantitative and qualitative?

Answer 21

Quantitative refers to the analysis of presence, i.e. concentrations. whereas qualitative identifies the presence of certain analytes.

Question 22

what are some wet analytical methods?

Answer 22

Precipitation, Distillation and extraction.

Gravimetric Analysis and Titration

Question 23

what are some instrumental analytical methods?

Answer 23

Instrumental methods can perform separation and incorporate both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Spectroscopy, Spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis.

Question 24

What is gravimetric analysis?

Answer 24

It is the analysis of a sample by weighing the analyte prior and after a transformation has occured.

Question 25

What is titration?

Answer 25

Titration uses a known and control reactant against a solution in order to identify characteristics of the solvent. This relies on the equivalence point.

Question 26

What is a separation process?

Answer 26

This process decreases the complexity of a material as desired.