Challenge Testing
- Challenge testing helps in determining the ability of food to support growth of spoilage organisms.
- This process provides validation in case of lethal effects against a target organism. For this purpose, process must deliver an associated performance standard. Let's say for example, 5 log reduction of Escherichia coli 157:H7 for fermented meats.
- It helps in assessment of whether specific process employed for a food product is in compliance with the predetermined performance standard.
- Knowledge of the food formulation and history of the food for any known illness outbreaks is crucial while selecting challenge pathogens.
- Challenge study is a vital tool for food industry in order to establish food safety. The process of challenge testing involves inoculating a particular risk microorganism in known concentration into a food product to assess for any growth that may occur during production, distribution, processing, storage or handling by consumers.
Eurofins Offers Challenge Testing for a Wide Range of Food Groups, Including -
- Processed food
- Thermally processed foods
- Packaged Drinking water
- Animal feed
- Meat, fish and Poultry products
- Herbs, Spices and condiments
- Fruit and fruit products
- Cosmetics
- Food ingredients/additives
- Packaging materials
Information Delivered by Challenge Testing
- Determination of food product’s safety and stability during storage
- Tests to establish a product’s shelf life
- Support in product formulation in terms of intrinsic control factors like pH and water activity
- We can deliver accurate information related to microbial survival rates and microbial inactivation kinetics
- We adopted product optimisation processes in our protocol and verify efficacy, safety, quality, stability, sensory and nutritional attributes of foods and food products
Eurofins - Being Unique
Our comprehensive range of services can help you in
- Brand Protection: Protect brand equity and customer loyalty by delivering healthy and safe food.
- Consumer Safety: Protect your customers from any contaminated, modified and unhealthy food.
- Compliance with Standards: Ensure your products are in compliance with local, national and international rules and regulations for food and food products.
- Ensure correct storage, shipping, packing and distribution: of commodities, food ingredients and food products.
