Chemistry Testing Services for Food

Chemical Analyses Offered

Based in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch our chemistry laboratories comprise two integrated teams – general chemistry and nutritional.

• Nutritional Information Panels (NIPs)
• Nutritional Claims
• Preservatives / Food additives
• Mineral Analyses
• Vitamin Analyses
• Food Safety / Allergens
• Wine testing
• Method validation / verification / customer methods
• Pharmaceutical testing

Nutritional Information Panels (NIPs)

A Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) is a table that lists the average quantities of seven key components of food and is required on most packaged foods. The quantities are given per serving and per 100 grams (g) or millilitres (mL). NIPs can be used to compare foods, allowing consumers to choose foods which are lower in fat, saturated fat, sugar and sodium.

Our analysis provides accurate information about the nutrient composition of a product. Testing for NIPs includes:

• Sodium
• Ash
• Carbohydrate (by difference)
• Dietary fibre (soluble, insoluble and total) 
• Energy
• Fat
• Moisture
• Protein
• Total sugars
• Saturated fat

For more information on NIPs visit the NZFSA website

Nutritional claims

• Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids
• Trans fatty acids
• Low joules (energy)
• Lactose, Gluten, Salt and Potassium
• Vitamins (Fat and water soluble)
• Cholesterol and phytosterols

Preservatives

Preservatives are synthetic or natural chemicals added to food to extend its shelf life. They prevent or slow down the growth of micro-organisms such as mould, yeast and bacteria that may spoil food and cause severe illness in people.

Preservatives are only allowed in specified foods where they are needed. They are permitted at the lowest level possible to achieve the desired preservative effect. This level must be less than the Maximum Permitted Level (MPL). The MPL is the amount of each chemical that should not normally be exceeded if good manufacturing practice is followed. Keeping preservative levels below the MPL also ensures there is no significant risk to consumers.

MPLs are legal limits, listed in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is responsible for this Code.

Testing for preservatives includes:

• Sulphur dioxide / sulphite / sulphiting agent 
• Sorbic acid / potassium sorbate
• Benzoic acid / Sodium benzoate
• Parabens

Mineral analysis

Testing for  macro and micro minerals includes:

• Toxic / heavy metals (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Antimony, etc)
• Trace elements (Selenium, Iodine and chromium etc)
• Other minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium, iron etc)

Vitamin analysis

Testing for Vitamin Testing includes:

• Vitamin Analysis
• (In Food, Dairy, Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Raw material and premix)
• All water soluble vitamins
• All fat soluble vitamins
• Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical testing
• Raw material testing using USP, FCC, BP, EP and other monographs
• Finished products testing like tablets, gels, oral liquids, injectibles etc

Food safety / allergens

• Allergens like peanut, gluten, soy, casein, BLG, egg, crustacean etc
• Aflatoxins B, G and M groups by HPLC, TLC and ELISA.
• Biogenic amines like histamine etc
• Foreign matter

Wine testing

If you export wine (grape wine, fruit wine, vegetable wine, cider or mead) you need to meet the requirements of the Wine Act 2003. We are now recognised by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) under the Wine Act 2003 for analysing export wines. For more information on the Wine Act visit the NZFSA website.

Our laboratory testing services to the wine industry include export testing to meet EU and other country requirements, residue analysis, chemical analysis, microbiology testing, allergen testing and forensic investigations. For specific information on EU testing visit the NZFSA website.

Wine laboratory submission form

Method validation / verification / customer methods

• Method development and validation as per international standards or customer requirements
• Verification of official methods (AOAC, FDA, APHA, AOCS, etc)
• Set up of customer methods

Pharmaceutical testing

For veterinary and human pharmaceuticals we provide:

• Testing of raw material and finished products as per the compendial (USP, BP, FCC, EU, JP etc) methods
• Non-compendial finished products testing for actives and  excipients
• Testing feeds and premix samples for antibiotics, and anthelmentics (e.g. Monensin, Narasin, Salinomycin, Nicarbazin, Tylosin, Ractopamine, Tilmicosin, Omeprazole etc)
• Testing for nutraceuticals and dietary supplements 

Back to the top