Conformity Assessment of Sampling for Food Safety

Decisions on the food safety of generally large, mostly inhomogeneous batches of foods are based on evaluated residue analyses of very small subsamples. The value of such a residue result primarily depends on the representativeness of the primary sample, the laboratory subsample, and the reliability of the analytical testing of the subsample. Many studies in the literature on sampling focus on sources of error, statistical considerations, sampling guidelines, etc. However, little information is available on the conformity testing of guidelines for sampling and the samplers themselves. This study presents a conformity assessment guideline for sampling developed by Analytica Alimentaria. The guideline aims to check either the conformity of a changed procedure or the work of a sampler. The test consists of a quality criteria evaluation of the entire sampling process and the quantitative analysis of the sample material. If the results are within an acceptable global estimation error, the test is considered to have passed. Otherwise, a root cause analysis is conducted. The results have demonstrated considerable benefits for robust and representative sampling in the field, reducing the probability of incorrect food safety decisions.