NIST develops a Standard Reference Material for peanut butter.

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 requires that information for selected nutrients be provided on labels for processed foods. In response, NIST has been working to provide food-matrix Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) with values assigned for the required nutrients. SRM 2387, Peanut Butter, is one in this series. SRM 2387 is intended for use as a primary control material for assigning values to in-house control materials and to validate analytical methods for measuring nutrients such as fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals. SRM 2387 is the first food-matrix reference material available from NIST with values assigned for amino acids, making the material potentially useful as a quality assurance tool for these and other nutrients in USDA's nutrient databases.

To study the robustness of analytical methods, AOAC International developed a nine-sector triangle in which foods are positioned based on their fat, protein, and carbohydrate content. The idea was that one or two foods within each sector should be representative of other foods within that sector when validating an analytical method. Similarly, one or two food-matrix reference materials in each sector can be used as control materials for other foods within that sector. NIST currently has food-matrix reference materials available within or along boundaries of all sectors except for the one in which peanut butter lies. Other foods in this sector include pasteurized processed cheese spread and beef bologna.

SRM 2387 also addresses the need for a reference material with values assigned for aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic metabolites of molds that may contaminate peanuts and other crops. This is the first reference material available from NIST that assigns values for aflatoxins.

NIST analysts provided data for certification of total fat and individual fatty acids, vitamin E, and several elements of nutritional interest (e.g., calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, etc.) in SRM 2387. N1ST data were combined with data provided by other collaborators to assign certified values. Reference values for additional vitamins, protein, calories, aflatoxins, amino acids, etc. were generated from data provided solely by collaborating laboratories.

CONTACT: Katherine Sharpless, [phone]; [e-mail].