After 6 consultations MoniQA's international task force on Food Allergen Reference Materials will meet again in Porto, Portugal, in the morning of 16 September 2015 ahead of the 5th MoniQA International Conference. Registration for this meeting is required by sending an email to conference [at] moniqa [dot] org; it is free for MoniQA Members and the initial task force members.
Current status: After extensive characterization the first materials (milk, a blank matrix material "rice cookie") are about to being tested and validated by the international community. For the gluten-free materials some 35 wheat varieties/flours have been extensively characterized and are now ready for final selection. Additional materials such as whole egg, peanut, hazelnut, and soy are in preparation and associated characterization work is under way. An update will be given at the upcoming meeting in Porto and the next steps will be discussed.
Background: In 2013 MoniQA initiated a Task Force on the development of food allergen and gluten-free reference materials. The Task Force is an international group comprised of several SDOs (Standardisation Organisations), industry representatives, policy makers, test kit providers and method developers, analytical companies, as well as representatives from various universities. This international group works towards consensus on the specific requirements and the design of global food allergen reference/testing materials and gluten-free standard materials. For this purpose MoniQA has liaised with the EU funded project iFAAM, the Prolamin Working Group (PWG) and Australia's Vital concept group.
The aim of MoniQA's initiative is the publication of a Guidance Document on the special requirements and production of food allergen and gluten-free reference materials. Accompanying research and the optimization of the production scheme to provide basic and incurred reference materials, spiked samples and extracts have been initiated.