In food industry, often the contamination of food can derive from the use of disinfectants added to the water to wash them or from the disinfectants used on the surfaces or instrumentation used during the production.
The catalogue of PTs offered by TestVeritas is constantly evolving, in 2025 a new line of PTs for Disinfectants by Products will be launched, proposing a PT for the research of Biocides in vegetables and a PT for the research of Chlorates, Perchlorates and Pesticides in infant formula. These Pts have been thought and specially designed to meet the demands of our customers.
Biocides
In the agricultural sector, many quaternary ammonium compounds can be used for disinfecting surfaces or food. This compound can have a variety of uses among which: biocides, pesticides, disinfectants and additives for technical applications.
BAC (benzalkonium chloride) and DDAC (didecyldimethylammonium chloride) in particular are widely used as biocides for the sanitation of surfaces in the areas of food, feed and medical production sectors as well as domestically.
In October 2012, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) approved guidelines for addressing the presence of DDAC and BAC in food and feed. It was also recommended that EU Member States conduct investigations to identify the potential sources of BAC/DDAC contamination and a monitoring program was implemented to assess the levels of BAC and DDAC in food and feed of both plant and animal origin. Based on the data collected through this monitoring (which was summarized in an EFSA report), a uniform Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of 0.1 mg/kg was established for both DDAC and BAC in all food products in 2014 (Reg. 1119/2014/EU).
Chlorates and Perchlorates
The presence of chlorate (ClO3-) in food may result from the use of water treated with chlorine or from the use of disinfectants containing chlorine. The risk of contamination affects all foods that are frequently washed (such as fruit and vegetables) but also foods such as milk and its derivatives, fish and meat. In fact, chlorate enters raw milk as a disinfectant by-product, through contact of milk with chlorinated water or as a residue of cleaning chemicals on equipment surfaces. As for perchlorate (ClO4-), this is a contaminant released into the environment by both natural processes and human action. Possible sources of contamination in food can be irrigation water, soil and fertiliser use.
In 2020, new limits were set for the presence of chlorates and perchlorates in different types of food (COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2020/749 and COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2020/685)
As previously highlighted by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), chlorates and perchlorates can both have an adverse effect on human health, in particular, they can reduce iodine uptake by the thyroid gland, causing reduced production of thyroid hormones and hypothyroidism.
Although an MRL for chlorate in foodstuffs has been set in the European Union (0,10 mg/kg in the specific case of milk) and the use of chlorate as a pesticide is banned, the treatment of water with chlorine and chlorine-based disinfectants is still permitted for use on farms and in fed plants.
The MRL for perchlorate in baby food has been set at 0,02mg/kg.
PT for the research of Biocides in lettuce (code VF5806)
Round of October 2025
- Deadline for online orders: September 5th 2025
- Shipping date: October 20th 2025
- Test Material: lettuce, 60g (after reconstitution) x 1 Test Material, spiked (in case the provided volume is not enough, it is possible to order additional material at a reduced price).
- Analytes under study: BAC10, BAC12, BAC14, BAC16, DDAC
- Indicative concentration: < 300ppb
- Blank TM available at a very convenient price!
PT for the research of Chlorate, Perchlorate and Pesticides
in baby powdered milk (code MI4806)
Round of March 2025
- Deadline for online orders: January 31st 2025
- Shipping date: March 10th 2025
- Test Material: baby powdered milk, 45g x 1 Test Material, spiked (in case the provided volume is not enough, it is possible to order additional material at a reduced price)
- Analytes under study: sodium chloride, potassium perchloride, pirimicarb, indoxacarb, aldrin, dieldrin, profenfos, clordane cis, lambda cialotrin.
- Guaranteed molecules: Sodium chloride, Potassium perchloride and at least 5 pesticides will be present.
- Indicative concentration: < 200ppb
- Blank TM available at a very convenient price!
IF YOU ARE STILL NOT CONVINCED…
With us the convenience doubles! For all PTs belong to Progetto Trieste you can submit 2 sets of results: with a single submission you will receive the evaluation of 2 laboratory technicians or 2 analytical methods directly in the Final Report.
Blank material available! For all the proposed matrices, there is an option to purchase the blank material (test material before spiking).
SAVE ON SHIPPING COSTS: Order as many PTs as you want among the ones shipped on the same date: the shipping cost does not change!
Want to know more about our advantages? Read the news on our website.
If you want to see more details about this or other PTs, such as the schedule, prices… go to this page to download the entire programme.
Here you can find information on HOW TO ORDER.
For any further information, do not hesitate to contact us at info@testveritas.com.
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