Overview
ISO 15151:2018 - “Milk, milk products, infant formula and adult nutritionals - Determination of minerals and trace elements - Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP‑AES) method” - specifies a validated laboratory procedure for quantifying major minerals and trace elements in milk and dairy matrices using ICP‑AES. The scope covers milk, powdered milk, butter, cheese, whey (liquid and powder), infant formulas and adult nutritional products. The method determines Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, K, Na and Zn across defined analytical ranges and is equivalent to AOAC Official Method 2011.14.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Analytes covered: calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.
- Sample types: liquid milk, reconstituted powders (infant/adult nutritionals), butter, cheese, whey and whey powders.
- Sample preparation: wet digestion of organic matter using concentrated nitric acid, commonly in a pressurized microwave‑assisted digestion system; dilution to a final analytical solution.
- Measurement technique: Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP‑AES) with external calibration and an internal standard (e.g., yttrium, indium or strontium).
- Reagents and materials: high‑purity laboratory water (ISO 3696), certified element stock solutions, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide; strict glassware cleaning (ISO 648, ISO 1042 compliant volumetrics).
- Quality aspects: blank tests, calibration standards, internal standardization, and documented precision (repeatability and reproducibility) performance data are included.
- Reporting: calculation formulas and expression of results per unit mass/volume for nutritional labeling and compliance.
Practical applications
- Routine quality control and batch release testing in dairy and infant formula production.
- Regulatory compliance testing for nutritional labeling and safety limits.
- Concentration monitoring of essential minerals and trace elements in product development and formulation.
- Analytical services and contract laboratories performing accredited testing (ISO/IEC 17025).
- Research studies on mineral fortification, bioavailability and nutritional profiling of dairy products.
Who should use this standard
- Dairy industry QC and R&D teams
- Infant formula and adult nutrition manufacturers
- Food testing and analytical laboratories using ICP‑AES
- Regulatory bodies and food safety authorities
- Accreditation bodies and auditors assessing laboratory capability
Related standards and references
- ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
- ISO 648 and ISO 1042 - Laboratory glassware specifications
- AOAC Official Method 2011.14 (equivalent method for infant formula)
Keywords: ISO 15151, ICP‑AES method, mineral determination, trace elements, milk testing, infant formula analysis, dairy laboratory methods, calcium, iron, zinc.