Preparing for “Closer to Zero”: Best Practices for Food Sample Preparation

Although microwave digestion reactors have made sample preparation of food samples faster and simpler than traditional methods, there are still significant challenges with preparing food samples for ICP-OES, ICP-MS, or AAS analysis.

Due to the typically low levels of trace metal contamination found in food samples, relatively high sample masses need to be digested in order to even measure the metal content. Additionally, the allowable levels of trace metals are in the process of being further reduced, as detailed in the FDA's 'Closer to zero' initiative. For this reason, the mass of foods samples required for testing will likely increase, thus requiring closer attention to sample reactivities during digestion, and a stronger focus on microwave operator safety.  

This webinar will highlight how modern microwave digestion reactors enable fast, safe and accurate digestion of larger samples while simultaneously enabling the sensitivities needed to detect even lower levels of contamination. Best practices for safe, worry-free and fast food sample preparation will round off this practical and actionable webinar.

Key Learning Objectives: 

• Current challenges with food sample preparation and how to overcome them
• Learn the current range and capabilities of microwave systems and how to optimize their use
• Tips and tricks for improved food microwave digestion results

Who Should Attend: 

• Users of microwave-assisted sample preparation
• Operators of ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and AAS equipment
• Laboratory managers 
• Anyone involved in trace metal analysis
•  Anyone preparing food, baby food, or animal feed samples for analysis