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for Nucleotides, Trace Elements, Inorganic Elements, and LCPUF In April 2011, the Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) reached consensus on draft fitness-for-purpose statements for the second set of priority nutrients: nucleotides, trace elements, inorganic elements, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). AOAC will issue a call for methods, and working groups will develop standard method performance requirements (SMPRs) against which an expert review panel (ERP) can evaluate methods. If sufficient data are available, the ERP will consider methods for possible adoption under the new alternative pathway to First Action status. Draft fitness-for-purpose statements were approved by consensus of key experts from government, formula manufacturers, contract research organizations, technology providers, academia, trade associations, raw ingredient suppliers, retailers, and consumer groups, among others. International representation is key to developing standards for dispute resolution methods. Stakeholders came from South America, India, China, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and United States. Working group chairs for the second set of priority nutrients are as follows: LCPUFA: Nana Bartke, Danone Research; Trace Elements (Molybdenum, Chromium, and Selenium): Joseph Thompson, Abbott Laboratories; Inorganic Elements (Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Potassium, Sodium, Copper, Calcium, Phosphorus, and Magnesium): Eric Poitevin, Nestlé Research Center; and Nucleotides: Brendon Gill, Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. At the SPIFAN meeting in April 2011, each working group chair provided background and examined analytical challenges, regulatory requirements, and existing methodology for each nutrient in an effort to reach consensus on expected performance of candidate methods. With draft fitness-for-purpose statements approved in April 2011 for the second set of nutrients, working groups will develop draft SMPRs, which will be posted for a 30-day comment period. AOAC will conduct literature searches and issue a call for methods. All methods will be initially reviewed by AOAC’s chief scientific officer, who will narrow down the list for further review by each nutrient-specific working group. An ERP will be convened to evaluate, and if satisfactory, approve methods under the new alternative pathway for First Action status. Currently, AOAC is planning a SPIFAN meeting and ERPs for nucleotides and trace elements only at the AOAC Annual Meeting, September 18-21, 2011, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Methods have already been identified and are in progress for inorganic elements and LCPUFA. For information on SPIFAN, contact Anita Mishra, executive for scientific business development, at amishra@aoac.org or Deborah McKenzie, senior director of methods development and approval processes, at dmckenzie@aoac.org. Full coverage is scheduled in the May/June issue of Inside Laboratory Management.
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