BS EN 14166-2009 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN 14166:2009 — Foodstuffs. Determination of vitamin B6 by microbiological assay. This European/British adoption specifies a validated microbiological assay (MBA) for the determination of total vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine, including phosphorylated or glycosylated derivatives) in foodstuffs.

Abstract

This standard defines the principle, reagents, apparatus, procedure, calculation, precision criteria and reporting for a microbiological assay to measure vitamin B6 content in homogeneous food samples. Results are normally reported as mg vitamin B6 per 100 g. The method has been validated in inter‑laboratory trials and includes informative annexes with calibration lines and precision data. The method is not suitable for samples containing high concentrations of antibiotics or other interfering substances.

General information

• Status: Current / Published (national adoptions listed as active/valid in standards catalogs).
• Publication date: 2009 (EN approved April 2009; BSI publication 30 June 2009).
• Publisher: European Committee for Standardization (CEN) — adopted/published by national bodies (British Standards Institution for BS EN version).
• ICS / categories: 07.100.30 — Food microbiology.
• Edition / version: Edition 2009 (EN 14166:2009, first EN edition replacing ENV 14166:2001).
• Number of pages: Approximately 16–18 pages for the published EN/BS EN texts (national publications list 16–18 pages; some national adoptions show small pagination differences).

Scope

The standard specifies a microbiological assay method for determination of total vitamin B6 in foodstuffs (measuring pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine, including phosphorylated/glycosylated derivatives). It applies to samples that can be homogenized and that do not contain high levels of antibiotics or other interfering compounds. Validation data from inter‑laboratory trials (fortified and non‑fortified matrices such as wholemeal flour, milk powder, mixed vegetables and pig’s liver) are given in an informative annex.

Key topics and requirements

• Principle: microbiological assay (MBA) using a suitable test organism and calibration with vitamin B6 standards.
• Analytes defined: total vitamin B6 expressed as the combined mass fraction of pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine (including derivatives).
• Required reagents and apparatus: media, reference solutions, incubators and other routine microbiological equipment as specified in the standard.
• Sample preparation: homogenisation and extraction procedures suitable for the food matrix under test.
• Interference and limitations: not appropriate for samples with high antibiotic residues or strong interfering substances; criteria for acceptance of data included.
• Performance: precision, repeatability and reproducibility data provided (informative annex B) from inter‑laboratory validation.

Typical use and users

Used by food testing and analytical laboratories, regulatory bodies, food manufacturers for quality control, research laboratories concerned with nutrient composition, and contract testing providers. Typical applications include nutrient labelling verification, ingredient testing and compliance checks where a microbiological assay is preferred or required.

Related standards

Related methods and standards include earlier prestandard ENV 14166, other EN methods for vitamin analysis (e.g., EN 14164 / EN 14663 for HPLC determinations of vitamin B6 and its forms) and established AOAC microbiological methods (AOAC 961.15, AOAC 985.32) for vitamin B6. National adoptions (BS EN, DIN EN, UNE‑EN, SS‑EN, etc.) are identical or equivalent to the EN text.

Keywords

vitamin B6, pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, microbiological assay, MBA, foodstuffs, food analysis, validation, inter‑laboratory precision, CEN, BS EN, ICS 07.100.30.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: EN 14166:2009 (published as BS EN 14166:2009 in the UK) is a European standard that specifies a microbiological assay for determining total vitamin B6 in foodstuffs.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the principle of the microbiological assay, required reagents and apparatus, detailed procedure, calculation of results, acceptance criteria, precision figures and reporting requirements, plus informative annexes with calibration and precision data. It is intended for homogeneous food samples that do not contain high antibiotic levels.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Food analytical laboratories, regulatory agencies, quality control departments in food manufacturing, contract testing laboratories and research groups working on nutrient analysis.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: EN 14166:2009 is the CEN standard published in 2009 and is shown in standards catalogs as the current/published edition (national adoptions available). Users should check with their national standards body for any amendments or more recent revisions before use.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of CEN/CEN/TC 275 activity on vitamins and food analysis. Related EN methods and AOAC microbiological/HPLC methods for vitamin determinations form a complementary set of standards for vitamin analysis in foods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: vitamin B6, pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, microbiological assay, food microbiology, MBA, validation, inter‑laboratory precision.