INDUSTRY TALK
What is food chemistry testing? When you think of food products, do you think of chemicals? As a food or beverage manufacturer, you should. Food chemistry – or chemistry testing to be more specific – plays a significant role in food safety and quality.
must do nutritional profiling, and that is a form of chemistry testing. Essentially, the law requires you to name the components present in your product and list the amounts
finding a balance between ensuring safety and making your products tastier. 4. Product performance – You can also
of each per food item. This is exactly what is
ensure better quality in terms of shelf-
done in a chemistry lab.
life and longevity. Chemistry testing also
Furthermore, you will have to provide
S
3. Taste – The process can also assist you in
information about additives, preservatives, ending your products to a chemistry
sweeteners, colourants and allergens on
testing lab is not only a necessity, but
your product. There are also laws on the
it can be beneficial to you. Remember,
number of preservatives and antioxidants
allows you to improve the appearance and texture of your product. 5. Operational improvement – Testing your products can also reveal the presence of harmful chemicals in your facility. 6. Consumer trust – When you produce
consumers are loyal to products that have
allowed in products. Chemistry testing can
consistently good quality. However, before
help you comply with regulations in this
consistently good products and provide
you can get started, you must have a solid
case too.
accurate labelling, people are likely to trust
understanding of chemistry testing. So, here’s what you need to know.
The same goes for toxins. Certain
you more and keep coming back.
toxins like mycotoxins and biotoxins - and
THE MEANING OF CHEMISTRY TESTING
harmful when consumed. You are required
THE RISKS OF NOT DOING CHEMISTRY TESTING
to ensure that your products are free of
If you decide against chemistry testing of
Food chemistry testing is the process of
these compounds or only contain them in
your products, you could end up in a lot
confirming the contents of the product.
extremely small amounts.
of trouble. You risk making people sick,
heavy metals like mercury - can be very
financial loss and you could even face legal
That’s the basic definition. To dig deeper, it involves analysing samples of products to find various elements or specifications. For instance, chemistry testing can tell you how much of each macronutrient – like carbs, proteins and fats – are in your product. The
"Food chemistry testing is the process of confirming the contents of the product."
battles. Learn the lesson from other people’s mistakes. For example, a beverage manufacturer had to recall its juice brand due to the presence of patulin (a mycotoxin) in some of
process can also indicate whether there are
the products. A recall involves a lot
allergens, heavy metals or toxic substances
of work and a lot of refunding. It could also be a PR crisis if you aren’t
present and it can tell you the levels of
careful. It’s best to avoid this at all costs.
ensure that your product is safe for human
THE BENEFITS OF CHEMISTRY TESTING
consumption and that it is of good quality.
Apart from the fact that you need to do
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
chemistry testing to ensure that you’re
Sampling and testing your products may
THE LAWS OF CHEMISTRY TESTING
abiding by regulations and standards, there
seem tedious and you may be put off by the
The law doesn’t say you must do chemistry
are other reasons to do it too.
additional expense. However, the fact is that
testing, however, there are laws that
1. S afety - By doing chemistry testing, you
you can’t do without it. What’s more is that
moisture in the item. All of this helps you to
necessitate chemistry testing. For example, the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants
can ensure that you keep consumers safe. 2. Reputation – Chemistry testing can help
act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) requires that all
you avoid having to recall products and
products come with nutritional labels. To
thus, avoid damage to your reputation as
get the information for these labels, you
well as financial damage.
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May 2022 | FOOD REVIEW
the benefits out-weigh the costs, so it’s more than worth it. •
Assurecloud – www.assurecloud.co.za
