NMKL and validation of methods for food analysis – examples from determination of vitamins using LC-MS/MS

NMKL [Nordic-Baltic Committee on Food analysis] was established in 1947 as a Nordic organization with the aim of developing and standardizing methods and procedures for food analysis. Our recent revitalization led to the Baltic countries joining in 2022 and our name was changed to Nordic-Baltic Committee on Food Analysis (https://www.nmkl.org). I will present an overview of ongoing work in the NMKL groups for Microbiology, Chemistry, Sensory and NordVal International. Validation is required when developing and/or establishing an analytical method in the laboratory, and participation in proficiency testing is an obligatory quality assurance when achieving accreditation is needed. To be standardized, methods should also be validated in an interlaboratory study ensuring compliance of results across different laboratories. I will introduce the principles in validation of analytical methods based on our NMKL procedures and present two mass spectrometry methods as examples. Mass spectrometry in terms of LC-MS/MS is a powerful analytical tool in modern vitamin analyses enabling discrimination and quantification of different vitamin forms. The first example is the already available method NMKL 204 “Total folate in food by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Quantification of 6 folate vitamers”. The second example is an LC-ESI-MS/MS method for simultaneous analysis of the vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6 being developed and validated in line with NMKL procedures at the Institute of Marine Research. In conclusion, NMKL provides a platform for knowledge sharing and quality assurance for developing methods and procedures for food analysis in the Nordic-Baltic region by utilizing our network of experts from both governmental and private institutions.