The purpose of the reference material is for the validation and quality control of measurement methods for trace element mass fractions in meat.
The target parameters for certification were the mass fractions of the total content of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn in bovine muscle. The desired mass fractions were those at natural levels that are similar to BCR-184 and below regulatory limits for food contaminants (EC466/2001 (Cd < 0.05 ìg/g, Pb < 0.1 ìg/g "wet weight"), with target uncertainties of 5 -10 % and values traceable to the SI, expressed as mass fraction of the dry mass.
The raw material was beef muscle from two healthy cattle slaughtered in Belgium: The first batch came from an animal of 39 months of age and the second batch from an animal of 47 months. All raw material was certified as "Fit for human consumption". The material was supplied in two batches of about 40 kg. It consisted of pieces of leg muscle trimmed of fat and sinew, of between 1 and 2 kg. It was sealed in plastic bags of about 10 kg for transport to IRMM. The raw material was stored at 4 °C until processing, which took place less than 24 h after arrival at IRMM on both occasions. On arrival at IRMM, the material was weighed and subsamples were taken and frozen at -20 ºC for later contamination checks on processing. keywords : Biological material, Animal tissue, Trace elements, Heavy metals, Foodstuff ,
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