HomeInternational Journal of Academic and Practical Researchvol. 3 no. 1 (2024)

Institutionalization of Translational Research Mechanism in PNRI Laboratories Vis-à-vis Formulation of Policy Recommendation and the Vinegar Standard of the Philippines

Raymond J. Sucgang | Preciosa Corazon B. Pabroa | Alumanda M. Dela Rosa

Discipline: food sciences

 

Abstract:

The absence of a comprehensive national guideline stipulating accurate and dependable approaches to validate the genuineness, quality, and safety of vinegar has rendered this widely used condiment susceptible to deceptive adulteration practices. The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) has devised a reliable authentication methodology utilizing isotope-based techniques for vinegar. However, PNRI is required to seek approval from relevant regulatory bodies to implement an updated version of Department of Health Administrative Order 134 or to formulate an official Vinegar Standard for the Philippines, which would encompass the newly developed procedure as a compliance criterion. To address existing concerns surrounding vinegar production, safety, consumer protection, and proper labeling, a consultative working group (CWG) was established, drawing from a diverse pool of experts. The CWG's outcome comprised a proposed update of A.O.134 and a draft Standard that incorporates the PNRI-developed 14C radio assay as a mandatory parameter for vinegar testing. A Policy Recommendation and the Standard were subsequently submitted to the regulatory agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ina significant development, notarized commitment letters were successfully obtained from major producers, committing to discontinue the use of glacial acetic acid in vinegar production. As of May 2019, prompted by the scholar's exposé across television news, radio, and print media concerning the surge of synthetic vinegar, the FDA assured the public of its intention to revise the country's vinegar standard, utilizing PNRI's study findings as a scientific foundation.



References:

  1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (n.d.). https://atsdr.cdc.gov/
  2. Bleyer, B., Diemair, W., & Leonhard, K. (1933). Arch. Pharm. (Weinheim), 271, 539.
  3. Camin, F., Bontempo, L., Perini, M., Tonon, A., Breas, O., Guillou, C., Moreno-Rojas, J., & Gagliano, G. (2013). Control of wine vinegar authenticity through δ18O analysis. Food Control, 29, 107–111.
  4. Chong-yu, S., Fei, X., Wu, B., Sehn, C., Ding, T., Li, L., & Lu, Y. (2015). Honey adulteration detection using liquid chromatography/elemental analysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Chinese Journal of Chromatography, 29(1), 15-19.
  5. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) (2017). DOST’s OneLab Project Bags BCYF Innovation Award. http://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/48-2017-news/1158-dost-s-onelab-project-bags-bcyf-innovation-award  
  6. Dutra, S. V. (2011). Determination of the geographical origin of Brazilian wines by isotope and mineral analysis. Anal Bioanal Chem, 401(5), 1571-1576. 
  7. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (n.d.). Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov.ph/   
  8. Grégrová, A., Čížková, H., Mazáč, J., & Voldřich, M. (2012). Authenticity and quality of spirit vinegar: Methods for detection of synthetic acetic acid addition. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288359540_Authenticity_and_quality_of_spirit_vinegar_Methods_for_detection_of_synthetic_acetic_acid_addition   
  9. Hattori, R., et al. (2010). Intramolecular carbon isotope distribution of acetic acid in vinegar. J Agric Food Chem, 59(17), 9049-9053.
  10. Jamin, T. (2009). 2H NMR and 13C-IRMS analyses of acetic acid from vinegar, 18O-IRMS analysis of water in vinegar: International collaborative study report. Anal Chim Acta, 649(1), 98-105.
  11. Journal of Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 64, 85, 1981. https://www.researchgate.net/journal/0004-5756_Journal_Association_of_Official_Analytical_Chemists  
  12. Liber, C. (1988). Biochemical Society Transactions, 16(3), 241-247. 
  13. Manila Bulletin. (2019, May 16). FDA to Set Stricter Safety and Quality Standards for Vinegar Products. https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/16/fda-to-set-stricter-safety-quality-standards-for-vinegar-products
  14. Manila Standard. (2019, May 12). FDA Cracks Down on Traders of Fake Vinegar. http://manilastandard.net/news/national/294608/fda-sets-crackdown-on-traders-of-fake-vinegar.html
  15. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, CID=177. (n.d.). https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/  
  16. Plessi, M. (2003). Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition (2nd ed., pp. 5996-6004).
  17. Salaspuro, M., & Lindros, K. (1985). Metabolism and toxicity of acetaldehyde. In H. K. Seitz & B. Kommerell (Eds.), Alcohol Related Diseases in Gastroenterology. Springer.
  18. Santos, F., Castaneda, S., Racho, J., Pabroa, P., Morco, R., & Sucgang, R. (n.d.). Nuclear Technique for the Detection of Synthetic Acetic Acid Adulteration in Vinegar and Revealing the Method of Production.
  19. Songur, A. (2010). Rev Environ Contam Toxicol, 203, 105-118. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1352-4_3
  20. The World Cafe. (n.d.). Key concepts and resources. https://theworldcafe.com/.
  21. Wechner, S., Voropaev, A., Eichinger, L., Santos, F., Castaneda, S., Racho, M., Pabroa, P., Morco, R., & Sucgang, R. (2010). Uncovering the method of production and detection of synthetic acetic acid adulteration in vinegar by tandem use of 14C liquid scintillation counting and 13C/12C ratio mass spectrometry. Philippines: Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers. https://pichenet.org/