Comparison of Babcock and Ether Extraction Methods for Determination of Fat Content of Milk: Collaborative Study

Abstract

A modified Mojonnier ether extraction method for determination of the fat content of cream was developed based on the method for milk (AOAC Official Method 989.05). The cream Babcock method (AOAC Official Method 920.111B-C) was modified to harmonize with the milk Babcock method (AOAC Official Method 989.04) and to clarify procedural details. Using the AOAC collaborative study format, 10 laboratories tested 9 pairs of blind duplicate heat-treated cream samples with a fat range of 30-45% using both methods. The statistical performance (invalid and outlier data removed) was as follows: mean % fat = 37.932, Sr = 0.125, SR = 0.151, RSDr = 0.330, RSDR = 0.398, r = 0.354, and R = 0.427 for the ether extraction method. For the Babcock method, mean % fat = 38.209, Sr = 0.209, SR = 0.272, RSDr = 0.548, RSDR = 0.712, r = 0.592, and R = 0.769. Average test results for fat from the Babcock method were 0.277% (absolute fat) greater than for the Mojonnier ether extraction method. The difference between methods, as a percentage of the average fat content of the samples, was 0.73%. This agrees with differences observed between the 2 methods for milk when 10 to 17 laboratories tested 7 milk samples in blind duplicate at bimonthly intervals over a 4-year period (average difference 0.029% fat, 0.78% as a percentage of average fat content). The Mojonnier ether extraction and Babcock methods for fat in cream have been adopted by AOAC INTERNATIONAL. The new Babcock method replaced the AOAC Official Method 920.111B-C.