Certification of H7-1 fraction and identity of non-modified and genetically modified sugar beet powder : certified reference materials ERM-BF419a and ERM-BF419b

This report describes the preparation and certification of the sugar beet powder Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) ERMBF419a and ERM-BF419b, consisting of conventional sugar beet powder and genetically modified H7-1 sugar beet powder, respectively. The CRMs were processed and certified in 2006 by the European Commission, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Geel, Belgium. Non-modified sugar beet roots and H7-1 sugar beet roots, supplied by KWS (Einbeck, DE), were tested individually concerning the presence of the H7-1 specific sequences. The roots were afterwards peeled and cut into small cubes. The cubes were freeze-dried, ground in a vibrating cryogenic mill at low temperature achieved by liquid nitrogen. The powder was bottled in 1 g units and closed under argon atmosphere. The H7-1 sugar beet mass fractions of ERM-BF419a and b were verified with the help of an event specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) method. The CRMs are intended to be used for the quality control or calibration of methods for the quantification of the H7-1 sugar beet mass fraction in food and feed.