Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) in Honey Proficiency Test

Note: Fees (prices) on this site are in GBP and do not include carriage / handling fees and VAT. Customers outside the UK may also incur local charges, including (but not limited to) import duties, local taxes and customs clearance fees, which may add significant cost to your order. Prices here are for the PT round or QC / Reference Material only and the total price payable may be higher.

$drupal->field_product_images[0]->alt

Product Specification

Proficiency Test Information
Product Code Proficiency Test Matrix Approx. Size
FCME2-HON2

22238

Honey

55 g

Analytes

pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs): contamination of matrix with two or more from a list of 28 possible pyrrolizidine alkaloids
View full analyte list for this specification

Comments

Please note as a new PT, pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey is not currently within scope of accreditation to ISO 17043. Contamination with two or more from the list of Analytes.

Test Description

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are naturally occurring toxins found in a wide variety of plant species. PAs are secondary metabolic products, produced by plants as a defence mechanism against plant eating animals.  An estimated 3 % of all blooming plants may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The content depends on the plant species and plant part, also influenced by factors such as soil conditions and climate.  More than 500 different PAs and corresponding N-oxides are known, some of them being extremely toxic. PAs can enter the food chain through different routes, for example if PA containing plants contaminate crops or if the toxins are naturally incurred in the plant material.

Honey is a global food commodity that is consumed directly and also used as an ingredient in the home and by commercial food producers. As pollinators visit PA-producing weeds as well as non-PA producing plants, honey is commonly contaminated by PAs. Health concerns have been raised regarding children and toddlers who are high consumers of honey.

Fapas has introduced proficiency tests for natural plant toxins of concern. Within this proficiency test your ability to test honey contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids will be evaluated. Two or more analytes from a list of 28 analytes will be present in the test material.

Proficiency tests are useful for maintaining high quality across a range of testing environments. Through the use of real food matrices your proficiency test results are immediately comparable to your routine testing activities, allowing you to highlight areas of improvement across your testing practices quickly and effectively. This ensures your end results are credible, and repeatable across a range of testing environments.

Related Products