Commission Regulation (EC) No 880/98 of 24 April 1998 establishing reference methods for the determination of the water, solids-non-fat and fat content of butter
Date: 1998-04-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: application of EU law, butter, food inspection, milk fat, product quality

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 880/98

of 24 April 1998

establishing reference methods for the determination of the water, solids-non-fat
and fat content of butter

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of
27 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market
in milk and milk products (1), as last amended by Regula-
tion (EC) No 1587/96 (2), and in particular Articles 6(7),
12(3), 14(7), 16(2) and 17(4) thereof,

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1854/96 (3), as
last amended by Regulation (EC) No 745/98 (4) estab-
lished a list of reference methods to be applied for the
analysis and quality evaluation of milk and milk products
under the common market organisation;

Whereas the internationally accepted reference methods
for the determination of the water, solids-non-fat and fat
content of butter referred to in that list have not been
therefore, no information on the
validated; whereas,
is
analytical
between-laboratory-variation of
available;

results

Whereas the methods had to be modified to facilitate
their application;

Whereas the methods have been validated according to
internationally established rules;

Whereas the validated methods should be applied as
reference methods;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are
the Management
in accordance with the opinion of
Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1.
The method of analysis described in Annex I shall
be applied as a reference method for the determination of
the water content of butter.

The method of analysis described in Annex II shall
2.
be applied as a reference method for the determination of
the solids-non-fat content of butter.

3.
The method of analysis described in Annex III shall
be applied as a reference method for the determination of
the fat content of butter.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force four weeks after its
publication in the Official Journal of the European
Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
States.

Done at Brussels, 24 April 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 206, 16. 8. 1996, p. 21.
(3) OJ L 246, 27. 9. 1996, p. 5.
(4) OJ L 103, 3. 4. 1998, p. 8.

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ANNEX I

DETERMINATION OF THE WATER CONTENT OF BUTTER

1. Scope and field of application

This reference method specifies a method for the determination of the water content of butter.

2. Reference

IDF standard 50 C: 1995 — Milk and milk products — Methods of sampling

3. Definition

Water content of butter: the loss of mass after completion of the heating process specified in this stand-
ard. It is expressed in grams per 100 grams.

4. Principle

Evaporation of the water from a test portion in the presence of pumice at a temperature of 102 HC in a
drying oven.

5. Apparatus and materials

Usual laboratory apparatus, and in particular:

5.1. Analytical balance, sensitivity 1 mg.

5.2. Desiccator provided with efficient drying agent (for example, freshly dried silica gel with hygroscopic

indicator).

5.3. Drying oven, ventilated, thermostatically controlled, operating at 102 5 2 HC throughout the total

working space.

5.4. Glass, porcelain or non-corrosive metal dishes, height of about 20 mm, diameter 60 to 80 mm.

5.5. Pumice stone, granulated, washed with a diameter of 0,8 - 10 mm.

6. Sampling

See IDF 50 C: 1995

7. Procedure

7.1.

Preparation of the test sample:

Warm the laboratory sample in the closed glass or suitable plastic container, which should be from
one-half to two-thirds full, to a temperature at which the sample will be soft enough to facilitate
thorough mixing to a homogeneous state (either by a mechanical shaker or by hand). The tempera-
ture of mixing should normally not exceed 35 HC. Cool the sample to ambient temperature. As
soon as possible after cooling open the sample container and stir briefly (not longer than 10
seconds) with a suitable device, for example a spoon or spatula, before weighing.

7.2. Determination of the water content

7.2.1. Place approximately 10 g of pumice in the dish (5.4).

7.2.2. Dry the dish with the pumice in the oven (5.3) at 102 5 2 HC for at least 1 hour.

Note: the drying periods mentioned in 7.2.2, 7.2.5 and 7.2.7 start when the temperature of the oven

reaches 102 5 2 HC.

7.2.3. Allow the dish to cool in the desiccator (5.2) to the temperature of the balance room and weigh to

the nearest 1 mg.

7.2.4. Weigh into the dish, to the nearest 1 mg, a test portion of approximately 5 g of the test sample.

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7.2.5. Place the dish in the oven at 102 5 2 HC and leave it for 3 hours.

7.2.6. Allow the dish to cool in the desiccator to the temperature of the balance room and weigh to the

nearest 1 mg.

7.2.7. Repeat the drying process for additional periods of 1 hour, cooling and weighing each time as

specified in 7.2.6 until constant mass (mass change not exceeding 1 mg) is reached.

In the event of an increase in mass, take for calculation the lowest mass recorded.

8. Expression of results

8.1. Method of calculation and formula

Calculate the water content, W, as a percentage by mass using the following formula:

W=

m1 –m2
m1 –m0

(cid:253)100

where

m0

m1

m2

is the mass in grams of the dish with the pumice (7.2.3)

is the mass in grams, of the test portion, dish and pumice before drying (7.2.4)

is the mass in grams, of the test portion, dish and pumice after drying (7.2.7)

Report the result to the first decimal place.

8.2. Repeatability

The absolute difference between the results of two single determinations, carried out simultaneously
or in rapid succession by the same operator under the same conditions on identical test material,
shall not exceed 0,2 %.

8.3. Reproducibility

The absolute difference between two single and independent results, obtained by two operators
working in different laboratories on identical test material, shall not exceed 0,3 %.

9. Test report

The test report shall specify the method used and the results obtained. It shall also mention all operating
details not specified in this international standard or regarded as optional, together with details of any
incidents which may have influenced the results. The test report shall include all information necessary
for the complete identification of the sample.

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ANNEX II

BUTTER: DETERMINATION OF SOLIDS-NON-FAT CONTENT

1. Scope and field of application

This standard specifies a method for the determination of the solids-non-fat content of butter.

2. References

IDF Standard 50 C: 1995 — Milk and Milk products — Methods of sampling.

3. Definitions

Solids-non-fat content of butter: The percentage by mass of substances as determined by the procedure
specified. It is expressed in grams per 100 grams.

4. Principle

Evaporation of water from a known mass of butter, extraction of the fat with light petroleum and
weighing of the residue.

5. Reagent

Light petroleum with a boiling range between 30 and 60 HC. The reagent shall not leave more than
1 mg of residue after evaporation of 100 ml.

6. Apparatus and materials

6.1. Analytical balance sensitivity 1 mg.

6.2. Desiccator provided with efficient drying agent (for example, freshly dried silica gel with hygro-

scopic indicator).

6.3. Drying oven, ventilated, thermostically controlled, operating at 102 5 2 HC throughout the total

working space.

6.4. Glass, porcelain or non-corrosive metal dishes, with a spout height of about 20 mm, diameter 60 to

80 mm, provided with a glass stirring rod.

6.5. Filter crucible, sintered glass, pore diameter 16 to 40 lm, with suction flask.

7. Sampling

See IDF standard 50 C: 1995

8. Procedure

8.1.

Preparation of the test sample

Warm the laboratory sample in the closed glass or suitable plastic container, which should be
from one-half to two-thirds full, to a temperature at which the sample will be soft enough to fa-
cilitate thorough mixing to a homogeneous state (either by a mechanical shaker or by hand). The
temperature of mixing should normally not exceed 35 HC. Cool the sample to ambient temper-
ature. As soon as possible after cooling open the sample container and stir briefly (not longer
than 10 seconds) with a suitable device, for example a spoon or spatula, before weighing.

8.2.

Determinaton

8.2.1. Dry the dish with the rod (6.4) and the crucible (6.5) in the oven (6.3) for 1 hour. Allow these
objects to cool in the desiccator and weigh them together (i.e. dish, rod and crucible) to the
nearest 1 mg (m0).

Notes: — As a rule, a cooling time of 45 minutes is sufficient,

— It is important that the same combination of dish, rod and crucible is used for each

test portion if more than one test portion is being analysed in the batch.

8.2.2. Remove the crucible, record the weight of the dish and rod together, to the nearest 1 mg (m1).

8.2.3. Weigh into the dish, to the nearest 1 mg, a test portion of about 5g of the test sample (8.1) (m2).

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8.2.4. Place the dish (containing the rod and the butter) in the oven at 102 5 2 HC and leave it over-

night.

8.2.5. Allow the dish (8.2.3) to cool to room temperature.

8.2.6. Add 15 ml of warm (approximately 25 HC) light petroleum to the dish and detach as much as
possible of the sediment adhering to the dish using the glass rod. Transfer the solvent into the
crucible and allow it to filter in the suction flask.

8.2.7. Carry out operation 8.2.6 four additional times. If there are no traces of fat on the surface of the
dish, quantitativey transfer, during the fourth washing, as much as possible of the sediment into
the crucible. Otherwise, repeat operation 8.2.6 till complete elimination of all traces of fat.

8.2.8. Wash the sediment in the crucible with 25 ml of warm light petroleum.

8.2.9. Dry the dish and the glass rod, and the crucible together in the oven at 102 5 2 HC for 30

minutes.

8.2.10. Allow to cool in the desiccator to room temperature and weigh to the nearest 1 mg.

8.2.11. Repeat operations 8.2.9 and 8.2.10 until constant mass (mass change not exceeding 1 mg) is

reached for the dish, rod and crucible together (m3).

9. Expression of results

9.1. Calculation of solids-non-fat content

Calculate the solids-non-fat content SNF, as a percentage by mass, using the following formula:

SNF =

m3 – m0
m2 – m1

(cid:253) 100

where

m0

m1

m2

m3

is the mass, in grams, of the empty dish with the glass rod and the crucible (8.2.1)

is the mass, in grams, of the empty dish with the glass rod (8.2.2)

is the mass, in grams, of the test portion and dish with the glass rod (8.2.3)

is the final mass, in grams, in the dish with the rod and the crucible containing sediment
(8.2.11)

Report the result to the first decimal place.

9.2. Repeatability

The absolute difference between the results of two single determinations, carried out simultaneously
or in rapid succession by the same operator under the same conditions on identical test material,
shall not exceed 0,1 %.

9.3. Reproducibility

The absolute difference between two single and independent results, obtained by two operators
working in different laboratories on identical test material, shall not exceed 0,2 %.

10. Test report

The test report shall specify the method used and the results obtained. It shall also mention all operating
details not specified in this international standard, or regarded as optional, together with details of any
incidents which may have influenced the results. The test report shall include all information necessary
for the complete identification of the sample.

Note:

If salted butter is analysed, added salt is determined as solids-non-fat. For the determination of the milk
solids-non-fat content, the content of added salt has to be subtracted from the solids-non-fat content.
The calculated precision figures for the determination of milk solids-non-fat are:

Repeatabiltiy:

r = 0,104 %

Reproducibility:

R = 0,206 %.

It can be concluded that the precision figures obtained for the solids-non-fat determination are valid for
the determination of the milk solids-non-fat content.

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ANNEX III

DETERMINATION OF THE FAT CONTENT OF BUTTER

The fat content is obtained indirectly by determination of the water content and the solids-non-fat content
according to Annex I and Annex II, respectively. The percentage, by mass, of fat is equal to

100 – (W + SNF)

where

W:

is the percentage, by mass, of water

SNF:

is the percentage, by mass, of solids-non-fat

The calculated precision figures for the determination of the fat content are:

Repeatability:

r = 0,22 %

Reproducibility:

R = 0,36 %.