Premix Testing: Ensuring Quality and Nutrient Accuracy in Food and Feed

Introduction

Premixes are concentrated blends of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other functional ingredients used to fortify foods, beverages, and animal feeds. Accurate formulation and quality verification of premixes are critical to ensure nutritional efficacy, safety, and regulatory compliance. premix-testing At Eurofins, we specialize in comprehensive premix testing and validation services, supporting food manufacturers, nutraceutical companies, and feed producers in maintaining consistent quality and label accuracy. Our state-of-the-art laboratories combine advanced analytical methods, traceability systems, and regulatory expertise to help clients meet both national and international standards.

Why Premix Testing is Essential

Premixes play a key role in improving public health through fortified foods such as cereals, infant nutrition, bakery products, and beverages. However, due to the high potency and sensitivity of micronutrients, even minor formulation deviations can lead to under- or over-fortification.

Eurofins’ premix testing ensures:

Accuracy of nutrient composition per declared levels.
Verification of homogeneity and stability across batches.
Compliance with labeling and fortification regulations (FSSAI, CODEX, EFSA, FDA).
Detection of contaminants, adulterants, and oxidation by-products.
Assurance of shelf-life stability and nutritional integrity.

Types of Premix Testing Offered by Eurofins

Test Type	Objective	Key Applications
Vitamin Analysis	Quantify water- and fat-soluble vitamins using HPLC and LC-MS/MS.	Fortified foods, infant formula, nutraceuticals.
Mineral and Trace Element Testing	Determine calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, and others via ICP-MS and AAS.	Mineral premixes, dairy and beverage fortification.
Amino Acid Profiling	Assess amino acid composition and concentration.	Protein fortification, animal feed.
Homogeneity and Stability Testing	Evaluate uniform distribution and stability of nutrients during processing and storage.	Quality control, formulation optimization.
Contaminant Screening	Identify heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial contamination.	Food safety and regulatory compliance.
Shelf-life and Degradation Studies	Assess nutrient retention under various storage conditions.	Product development and validation.

Analytical Techniques Used

Eurofins employs globally validated methods to ensure accuracy and reproducibility in premix testing.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for vitamins and bioactive compounds.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) for mineral profiling.
Gas Chromatography (GC) and Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for complex nutrient matrices.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for rapid screening and blending uniformity.
Accelerated stability testing under controlled environmental conditions.

All testing is performed in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and FSSAI, Codex Alimentarius, and AOAC International guidelines.

Regulatory and Quality Framework

FSSAI regulations for premixes in India categorize premixes under Category 99 of the Food Categorisation Code, which applies to "substances added to food which are not for direct consumption." Premixes, being intermediary products added to the final food formulation, must be licensed under one of the subcategories of Category 99:

5 Nutrients and their preparations
6 Microorganisms and microbial preparations
7 Functional ingredients

This categorization clarifies that premixes are to be regulated as food additives or substances added to food rather than standalone consumables. The regulations also require appropriate licensing based on the type of premix.

Regulatory Body	Standard/Guideline	Scope of Application
FSSAI (India)	Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018	Defines fortification levels for staples like milk, salt, oil, wheat, and rice.
Codex Alimentarius	CAC/GL 09-1987, CAC/GL 08-1991	Guidelines for vitamin and mineral fortification and premix safety.
EFSA (Europe)	Regulation (EU) No. 1925/2006	Governs addition of nutrients and bioactives to food.

Eurofins experts provide full regulatory assistance to ensure compliance with fortification standards and export requirements.

https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2023/11/654b5f207c9c4Frk%20order_compressed.pdf

https://fssai.gov.in/upload/media/5b4481dd23d36FSSAI_News_Food_Category_FNB_28_04_2018.pdf

Challenges in Premix Testing and How Eurofins Helps

Challenge	Impact	Eurofins Solution
Nutrient instability during processing	Loss of potency and label non-compliance	Stability studies under accelerated and real-time conditions.
Inaccurate blending or segregation	Uneven nutrient distribution	Homogeneity testing and NIR validation of mixing efficiency.
Cross-contamination or adulteration	Product recalls and safety risks	Multi-element screening and contaminant profiling.
Regulatory differences across regions	Non-compliance with import/export markets	Global regulatory consulting and harmonized testing.

Case Study: Ensuring Label Accuracy for Fortified Beverages

A leading beverage manufacturer approached Eurofins after inconsistencies were found in vitamin levels across production batches. Eurofins implemented a customized HPLC and ICP-MS testing program to validate vitamin and mineral concentrations.
The results enabled process optimization and improved batch uniformity, ensuring compliance with both FSSAI and Codex fortification standards. The company achieved a 98% reduction in batch variability and improved consumer trust through verified label claims.

Why Choose Eurofins for Premix Testing

Extensive experience in micronutrient, vitamin, and mineral analysis.
Advanced analytical platforms with global harmonization.
Expert chemists, nutrition scientists, and regulatory specialists.
End-to-end support from raw material validation to finished product testing.
Fast turnaround time and customized reporting formats.

Ensure your fortified foods and premixes deliver on both nutritional promise and regulatory compliance. Partner with Eurofins for reliable testing, validation, and certification solutions that safeguard product integrity and consumer trust.

Enquire now: www.eurofins.in/food-testing/enquire-now/