Over the past 140 years, AOAC INTERNATIONAL has served as a trusted standards development organization, supporting stakeholders in the food, infant formula, dietary supplement, agricultural, and related industries with reliable methods for formulation, nutritional content determination, and compliance testing. AOAC’s credibility is derived from leveraging the expertise of its international pool of volunteer subject matter experts to address analytical challenges with reliable, fit for purpose, and validated methods.
BACKGROUND
The food and dietary supplement industries rely on robust vitamin analysis methods to ensure product formulation, accurate nutritional content, and regulatory compliance. However, gaps in currently available methods underscore the need for a dedicated Vitamin Analysis Program. For many matrices, validated methods are either outdated or entirely lacking. Furthermore, as new compounds are recognized for fortification or exhibit varying biological activities, existing methodologies must evolve to reflect these changes.
Enhanced analytical techniques, such as more selective and efficient liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, can replace older, less efficient approaches, such as microbiological methods. Multi-vitamin methods could streamline analysis and provide greater accuracy. Additionally, aligning analytical definitions with global standards presents an opportunity for increased harmonization.
To address the need for updated definitions and methods of the current vitamins methods within the Official Methods of Analysis, AOAC will convene an Advisory Panel (AP) of organizations, including private companies as well as non-profit scientific organizations. The AP will then prioritize a list of vitamin methods before choosing one option for the first Working Group in 2025.
The Working Group will consist of volunteers and appointed scientific advisors who are experts in this field. Their efforts will produce a Standard Method Performance Requirements® (SMPR) document, which will initiate a call for methods process, ultimately leading to the development of a new, fit-for-purpose, official analytical method. Once successful, this process will be repeated in order to build numerous newly updated vitamin analysis methods for use by the industry and regulators.
MOVING FORWARD WITH AOAC’s Vitamin Analyses Program
AOAC INTERNATIONAL is seeking financial support to launch the Vitamin Analyses Program, which will be guided by an Advisory Panel comprised of funding organizations from government, NGO, industry and academia to determine priorities and working group objectives. This panel will meet quarterly to review progress and consider additional objectives.
AOAC INTERNATIONAL is asking organizations to join this important program with an annual contribution of $10,000. Other levels of contributions will be considered as well. Funding will support the following for each workstream:
- Project management support for convening the Advisory Panel and subsequent technical Working Groups,
- Oversight of the standard development process,
- Processes for drafting documents and consensus building,
- Publication of approved consensus documents,
- Call for methods,
- Establishment of Expert Review Panel(s) for methods considered for AOAC official method status or their modifications,
- Oversight of the Official Methods of Analysis process,
- Publication of established or modified official methods in Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONALSM (OMA),
- Facilitation of global alignment,
- External outreach and training events to publicize the work of the group as well as to attract additional scientists.
Advisory Panel Member Benefits
Joining the Advisory Panel for the Vitamin Analyses Program is a unique opportunity to lead and influence the development of industry-standard methods that ensure accuracy, consistency, and regulatory compliance in vitamin analysis. Advisory Panel members can:
- Shape Method Standards: Play a key role in developing internationally recognized performance standards that address current analytical gaps, paving the way for new Official Methods of Analysis or updates to existing methods for accurate vitamin content measurement in food and dietary supplements.
- Advance Global Harmonization: Collaborate with experts and global organizations to harmonize analytical approaches, supporting international consistency and simplifying trade and regulatory processes, analytical approaches, supporting international consistency and simplifying trade and regulatory processes.
- Enhance Product Integrity: Contribute to establishing reliable methods that improve product quality, enhance consumer trust, and meet evolving regulatory demands for accuracy in labeling and fortification.
- Network with Industry Leaders: Gain exclusive access to a community of scientific and industry experts, fostering connections and insights that support organizational and professional growth.
- Stay Ahead of Regulatory Changes: Be at the forefront of regulatory and scientific developments in vitamin analysis, providing a competitive advantage in adapting to new requirements and scientific findings.
These benefits make the Advisory Panel an influential platform for advancing both organizational goals and industry standards.
Supporters
ANKOM
Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing Madison Inc
Factors Group
Herbalife
ISURA
NMKL
Mérieux NutriSciences
R-Biopharm
Société des Produits Nestlé S.A
