Laboratory introduction
China National Research Institute of Food & Fermentation Industries (CNRIFFI) has been engaged in the research of food glycemic index (GI) for many years, and has accumulated rich experience in GI testing and low GI product development, which is at the leading level in China. In 2018, the first internationally accredited GI laboratory in China for research and testing was established, with the professional and technical support from Sydney University Glycemic Research Service (SUGiRS) and the Glycemic Index Foundation. The laboratory is established basing on the "Beijing Key Laboratory of the Innovative Development of Functional Staple and the Nutritional Intervention for Chronic Disease" (jointly established with Peking Union Medical College Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences). It mainly focuses on GI testing, low GI dietary research for NCDs population, professional service for enterprises in low GI food development and improvement, promoting GI concept and guiding people’s consumption behavior, etc.. It has cooperated with more than 80 well-known domestic and international enterprises.
GI Foundation Certified International GI Testing Laboratory Certificate
At present, the GI laboratory has advanced testing equipment and medical service tracking system, which can meet the whole process of conducting GI test, from ethical application, volunteer recruitment, food GI determination to test report issuance of GI test. The Chinese and English test reports of the laboratory can be used by enterprises to apply for low GI product certification from the GI Foundation of Australia, and provide opportunities for enterprises to apply and have their products’ GI information recorded in the international food GI value database (www.glycemicindex. com).
Laboratory qualifications
(1) Technical basis: The laboratory carries out GI test in accordance with both ISO 26642: 2010 Food products—Determination of the glycaemic index (GI) and recommendation for food classification and the domestic WS/T 652—2019 Standard for determination of food glycemic index. The laboratory can implement the whole GI testing process from food inspection, ethical application, volunteer recruitment, food GI determination to the issuance of test reports. In addition to GI test, the laboratory can also carry out tests such as insulin index (II) , satiety assessment and other services.
(2) Complete testing equipment: The key laboratory is equipped with fully automatic chemistry analyzer, liquid chromatography, dietary fiber analyzer, etc., which can meet the hardware facilities for carbohydrate determination and GI testing.
(3)Personnel qualifications: The laboratory is equipped with registered nurses, Chinese and Australian registered dietitian, international data analysts and other professionals. The core personnel of the laboratory have completed professional technical training and examination in SUGiRS, Australia in 2018 and obtained professional qualification certificates.
Overview of enterprises served by the laboratory
So far, GI testing laboratory has carried out GI testing, product development and other related cooperation with more than 60 domestic and international enterprises. In addition, the laboratory also carried out cross-border cooperation and industrial services with well-known Internet platforms such as JD and DXY, to promote the development of GI industry in China and also international GI research collaboration.
Science popularization and promotion platform of low GI lifestyle
Based on GI testing service, the laboratory has a variety of science popularization activities and promotion services, aiming to promote low GI lifestyle and low GI dietary pattern to the public, to introduce the latest international research results into China, and to promote the positive and healthy development of GI food industry.
(1) Official WeChat account and website:
The official website of [GI Nutrition Studio] (www.chinafoodgi. com) and WeChat official account routinely update related content for GI science popularization, including the latest scientific research progress, expert Q&A, practical skills of low GI diet and many other parts. In addition, the relevant content of the annual GI International Conference will also be released on the WeChat official account. There is also a GI database in the WeChat official account, which is the largest approachable food GI database in China with exclusive authorization from University of Sydney. At the same time, low GI products that have completed GI testing in our laboratory have the opportunity to have its product information uploaded into the database.
(2) Establishment of the international GI database platform
Low GI products tested by GI laboratories using ISO international standard test methods can be reported and uploaded into the international GI database of the University of Sydney.
Search result page of a product (tested by our laboratory)
(3) China GI International Conference
Since 2019, the laboratory has held the China GI international conference every year, including internationally well-known specially-invited experts and professionals in GI areas, including Professor David Jenkins, Professor Thomas Wolever, Professor Jennie Brand-Miller, as well as domestic professionals and researchers to share the latest research results, the development trend of low GI industry and the practical skills of low GI diet. In addition, the conference has also invited industry representatives from leading enterprises to share products and industrialization related content. The meeting has greatly improved the standardization and science of GI industry and greatly promoted the positive and healthy development of the industry.
Guest Speakers of GI International Conference in 2021 (partial)
(4) Enterprise cooperation and science promotion
The laboratory has carried out various forms of science promotion and cooperation with many domestic and foreign food enterprises, functional raw material enterprises, Internet and We-media platforms, and certification enterprises (such as Sanyuan, Feihe, Sangduoan, Milkyway, DXY, JD, Beijing FA authenticity certification, Shanghai Anchor Center for Certification etc.). The laboratory can conduct personalized GI popular science promotion cooperation according to the demands of products and enterprises.
Contact Information:
GI Nutrition Studio
Tel.: 010-53218212; 010-53218322
Email: gi@cnif.cn