FettqualitätUn

FettqualitätUn is a framework for assessing the quality and safety of fats and oils used in food production, consumer products, and industrial applications. The framework consolidates analytical methods and performance criteria to enable standardized evaluation across producers and markets.

It groups assessment parameters into chemical composition, oxidation and stability, impurities and contaminants, sensory properties, and processing performance. Common metrics include fatty acid profile, peroxide value, anisidine value, iodine value, moisture and insolubles, and trace metals as applicable.

Evaluation relies on laboratory analyses such as gas chromatography for fatty acids, spectrophotometric assays for oxidation, and sensory panel testing for aroma and flavor, complemented by rapid instrumental techniques like infrared spectroscopy. A composite FettqualityUn score or rating summarizes the result and informs product suitability and compliance.

The framework is developed by an international consortium of academic, industry, and regulatory stakeholders and is intended as a voluntary standard to support quality control, supplier audits, and product labeling. It is designed to be compatible with existing standards from Codex Alimentarius, ISO, and national food safety agencies.

Applications include edible oils and fats, animal fats, and fat-containing ingredients used in cosmetics and biopolymers. Limitations include the cost of testing, the need for expert interpretation, and natural variability among fats from different origins.