Overview
ISO 27608:2010/Amd 1:2016 is an internationally recognized amendment to the ISO 27608:2010 standard, focused on the determination of Lovibond® colour in animal and vegetable fats and oils using an automatic method. Published by ISO, this amendment updates the scope and practical application guidelines for automatic instrumentation in color measurement of fats and oils. The Lovibond colour scale, a globally accepted standard, measures the intensity of colour in fats and oils, providing vital quality and purity information.
This standard is essential for industries dealing with edible oils, fats, and related products to ensure consistent quality control through precise colour measurement using automated systems.
Key Topics
- Automatic determination of Lovibond® colour: The amendment specifies procedures for using automatic instruments to measure the colour of animal and vegetable fats and oils.
- Scope and limitations:
- Suitable for fats and oils with a color intensity up to 4 Lovibond red units.
- Not recommended for samples exhibiting strong blue, green, or brown hues.
- Milk and milk-derived fats are excluded from this standard.
- Reference to manual methods: For samples outside these limits, the manual reference method described in ISO 15305 remains applicable.
- Lovibond® colour scale: This well-established colour scale, developed by The Tintometer Ltd, is recognized worldwide. The standard acknowledges the use of equivalent products that can reliably reproduce the same results.
- Interlaboratory trials: Demonstrated that automatic instruments are effective within specific color intensity ranges and certain hue conditions.
Applications
This ISO amendment is highly relevant for:
- Food industry quality control: Ensuring the consistency and authenticity of edible animal and vegetable fats and oils.
- Product development and R&D: Monitoring colour changes during processing and formulation challenges.
- Regulatory compliance: Meeting international standards for food safety and quality measurement.
- Laboratory testing: Facilitating faster, reproducible colour measurement results with automated instrumentation.
- Supply chain verification: Confirming product quality at various stages from production to packaging.
Related Standards
- ISO 15305: This standard provides the manual reference method for Lovibond colour determination and is cited as an alternative for samples unsuitable for automated testing.
- ISO/TC 34, SC 11: The technical committee responsible for developing international standards for animal and vegetable fats and oils.
- ISO/IEC Directives Parts 1 & 2: Guidance documents on the development and editorial rules for ISO standards.
- Other Fats and Oils Standards: Various ISO standards addressing quality parameters, testing methods, and safety of fats and oils complement this colour determination method.
By adhering to ISO 27608:2010/Amd 1:2016, laboratories and industries benefit from accurate, consistent, and efficient measurement of Lovibond colour in fats and oils, supporting both product quality assurance and compliance with international standards.