MOSH/MOAH in infant formula (quantification)

Levels of MOSH and MOAH in infant formula have been widely discussed in 2020. One of the main issues of the discussion was that not standardised analytical method was available at that time. Further method development and standardisation took place and in the meantime a standardised analytical method is available. 

The MOSH and MOAH are not only on the surface of infant formula, but enclosed to the material. Sample preparation must be suitable to extract the whole content of MOSH and MOAH in the infant formula. 

A sample of infant formula, which is not only spiked "on the surface" but with levels of MOSH and MOAH "enclosed" to the material is provided in this method ring test.

P2402-MRT is organised as a method ring test. That means, the evaluation is not limited to the pure statistical evaluation of the provided analytical data. Consequently, 

• all participants are asked to provide the chromatograms of the test sample and the blank sample including the integration of the humps. All chromatograms are published (anonymised with the lab code) in the final report.
• a questionnaire is provided related to the analytical details like internal standards, sample-pretreatment, etc. and related to the confirmation of the results.

The analytical details, which are mentioned above as well as the chromatogramms are summarised in separate parts of the final report. For reasons of fairness, only those participants, which provide details and chromatograms will receive these parts of the report. These data, anonymised and summarised, will help to identify shortcomings, built the basis for further discussion and thus help to enhance the quality of the applied methods.

The analytical results are evaluated with respect to

• the comparability criterion (z-score), and
• as far as achievable with respect to the trueness criterion (recovery of the spiked level).