Food Analysis Laboratory Control Center

The Food Analysis Laboratory Control Center (FALCC) is located in 302-304 Engel Hall in the Virginia Tech Biochemistry Department.

Mission / Objectives

The mission of the FALCC is to perform accurate and precise chemical analysis of nutrients and phytochemicals in foods and clinical research diets, in support of epidemiological studies, clinical feeding trials, and public health. A key part of this work involves developing and validating analytical methods and and food based control materials for research applications, such as quantitation of bioactive food components or nutrients for which food composition data are lacking or inaccurate.

Areas of expertise

• Detailed analysis of phytosterols in foods, diets, and dietary supplements
• Analysis of folate vitamers in foods and diets by tri-enzyme extraction and LC-MS
• Validation and monitoring of research diet composition using chemical analysis
• Extensive experience in collecting and preparing food samples and diet composites from statistical nationwide sampling plans and from clinical feeding trials and analyzing these samples with rigorous quality control, including validation of methodology
• Development of food-based quality control materials and protocols
• Maintenance of extensive –60^oC sample archives and sample data management system.
• Nutrient analyses including fatty acids (including trans fatty acids), cholesterol, vitamin C, folate, sugars, starch, dietary fiber, minerals, proximates

Funding sources include/have included the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory, which maintains the U.S. National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Purity Life, Westat, the National Institutes of Health (diet validation and monitoring for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and DASH-Sodium feeding trials) and the Dietary Effects on Lipoproteins and Thrombogenic Activity (DELTA study); the National Sunflower Association; and Nabisco Foods; the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; the Mushroom Council; Australian Mushroom Growers Association; and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;

Quality Control Materials for Food Analysis

The FALCC maintains an extensive archive of a wide range of food matrix control materials used in the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program

A Mixed Mushroom Control Material is available for interlaboratory distribution to validate interlaboratory analyses of mushroom composition. Contact Dr. Phillips at kmpvpi@vt.edu for more information or to request samples of the material.

Funding sources include/have included the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory, which maintains the U.S. National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Purity Life, Westat, the National Institutes of Health (diet validation and monitoring for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and DASH-Sodium feeding trials) and the Dietary Effects on Lipoproteins and Thrombogenic Activity (DELTA study); the National Sunflower Association; and Nabisco Foods; the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; the Mushroom Council; Australian Mushroom Growers Association; and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;

Selected Publications

See a list of selected publications.