Homogeneity of fruits and vegetables comminuted in a vertical cutter mixer.
The homogeneity of comminuted composites of 20 lb samples of apples, cabbage, and green beans containing field-incurred residues of p, p'-methoxychlor was studied to determine whether a 5 min comminution in a 40 qt vertical cutter mixer produces a homogeneous composite and whether the size of test portions used accurately represents the composite. Duplicate test portions of 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, and 2 g taken from each of 6 separate sections of the mixer were analyzed by standard pesticide residue methodology for p, p'-methoxychlor. Results of this study confirmed that comminution of fresh produce in a 40 qt vertical cutter mixer, according to instructions described in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Pesticide Analytical Manual, Volume I, Section 203B, produces a homogeneous composite. No significant differences were found in the data for the 3 crops taken from the 6 sections of the mixer. Test portion weights of 100, 50, and 25 g produced equivalent results for all 3 crops. Statistically significant differences were observed for cabbage at 2, 5, and 10 g and for green beans at 2 g.
Young
S J
SJ
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Division of Pesticides and Industrial Chemicals, Washington, DC 20204, USA.
Parfitt
C H
CH
Newell
R F
RF
Spittler
T D
TD
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005511:Food Handling; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008731:Methoxychlor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011786:Quality Control; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D008731:Methoxychlor