Food Testing
Ensuring Food Integrity
Food Testing Services
- Argemone & papaya Seeds being used in mustard seeds could cause epidemic dropsy and severe glaucoma
- Starch being added to give rich texture to paneer, khoya & condensed milk and could cause stomach disorders
- Pepper oil is added to ice cream which would cause kidney, lung and heart diseases
- Coffee Powder is adulterated with tamarind seeds. Chicory powder is used as coloring agent & to add weight
- Injectable dyes in watermelon, peas, capsicum, brinjal, papaya seeds
- Sudan dyes which are meant to be used for coloring plastics and synthetic materials, are being used as coloring agents in food like red chili and other products. Sudan dyes have been identified as carcinogenic for humans and can pose severe health hazards
- Milk could be found adulterated by adding water or by removing the cream or by adding artificial coloring agents like annatto, caramel, coal tar colors and preservatives like formaldehyde, boric & other acids etc
- Meat & eggs could be found adulterated by adding preservatives like potassium nitrate, boric & other acids etc. Coloring matter like aniline red and cochineal-carmine is usually added colors
- In vegetables, malachite green is used for bright glowing green color which may be carcinogenic for humans
- Martius yellow is used to enhance the yellow color of food substances. It can be carcinogenic and could cause stomach disorders
- Nutritional and protein quality analysis for food and beverages
- Compliance testing for infant formula and clinical nutrition
- Label claim verification in dietary and sports supplements
- Amino acid balancing for feed formulation and animal nutrition
- R&D and quality control for functional foods
- FSSAI (India) mandates amino acid content in specialized nutrition products such as infant milk substitutes, food for special dietary uses and protein-rich supplements.
- Codex Alimentarius and EU Food Regulations require accurate amino acid declarations in medical and sports nutrition formulations.
- The US FDA also emphasizes amino acid profiles in dietary supplements to substantiate label claims and functional claims.
- Global regulatory bodies are moving toward stricter label transparency and nutrient profiling systems, making amino acid analysis essential for market access and consumer trust.
- Amino acid
- Ash
- Calcium
- Carbohydrates
- Drugs and antibiotics
- Fat
- Crude fiber
- Moisture
- Minerals
- Microbiological
- Melamine detection
- Mycotoxins
- Phosphorus
- Protein
- Pepsin digestibility
- Sugar
- TDN or Total Digestible Nutrients
- Calories
- Vitamins
- Testing of edible oils, fish, meat, milk, and dairy products
- Monitoring in animal feed and fat-containing food matrices
- Import/export regulatory compliance
- Risk assessment for contamination and environmental exposure
- Validation of organic and clean-label claims
- FSSAI (India) has adopted stricter norms for contaminants, referencing Codex and EU limits for persistent organic pollutants like dioxins in oils, animal products, and feed.
- The European Union (EU 2017/644 and EU 2017/771) mandates stringent Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for dioxins and PCBs in both food and feed products.
- WHO/FAO JECFA and Codex Alimentarius recommend continuous monitoring and risk mitigation strategies for dioxin exposure.
- Increasing emphasis is being placed on organic and infant food testing, where dioxin levels must meet even stricter thresholds.
- Testing of edible oils, fish, meat, milk, and dairy products
- Monitoring in animal feed and fat-containing food matrices
- Import/export regulatory compliance
- Risk assessment for contamination and environmental exposure
- Validation of organic and clean-label claims
- FSSAI (India) has adopted stricter norms for contaminants, referencing Codex and EU limits for persistent organic pollutants like dioxins in oils, animal products, and feed.
- The European Union (EU 2017/644 and EU 2017/771) mandates stringent Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for dioxins and PCBs in both food and feed products.
- WHO/FAO JECFA and Codex Alimentarius recommend continuous monitoring and risk mitigation strategies for dioxin exposure.
- Increasing emphasis is being placed on organic and infant food testing, where dioxin levels must meet even stricter thresholds.
Equipment validation is a scientifically controlled and documented process that confirms whether a system, equipment, or manufacturing process consistently produces results meeting predetermined quality and safety specifications. In food, beverage, and nutraceutical manufacturing, equipment validation is a regulatory and quality-critical requirement that safeguards the final product’s integrity, safety, and compliance.
- Autoclaves and Retorts
- Steam and Continuous Sterilizers
- Dry Roasters and Pasteurizers
- Conveyor-based Thermal Systems
- Blanchers, Dehydrators and Ovens
- Selection of Surrogate Organism – Non-pathogenic, heat-resistant strains used to mimic target pathogen resistance.
- Inoculation and Processing – Controlled inoculation of product or test carrier followed by exposure to process conditions.
- Recovery and Enumeration – Quantitative determination of surviving organisms to evaluate process lethality.
- Data Analysis and Validation Report – Calculation of D-value, z-value, and log-reduction efficacy to establish scientifically sound validation parameters.
- Demonstrates that the equipment and process consistently deliver desired safety and quality outcomes.
- Identifies worst-case process parameters (temperature, residence time, load, etc.) for validation.
- Verifies microbial lethality and process efficacy using challenge studies.
- Establishes critical limits and control points for ongoing process monitoring.
- Helps achieve minimum 4-log reduction for target microorganisms to meet regulatory safety criteria.
- Optimizes thermal and sterilization processes for energy efficiency and product integrity.
- Provides scientific justification for process deviations and risk assessments.
- Strengthens overall HACCP and food safety management systems with evidence-based validation data
Each equipment validation study conducted by Eureka is supported by detailed scientific documentation and process verification. The validation process includes comprehensive Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) and Performance Qualification (PQ) to ensure equipment operates as per design and regulatory requirements. Thermal distribution and penetration studies are performed using calibrated data loggers and thermocouple arrays to assess heat uniformity and identify critical control points. In addition, microbial challenge tests with surrogate organisms such as Enterococcus faecium ATCC 8459 are conducted to determine the actual microbial lethality and confirm the required log reduction efficacy. The study involves precise temperature-time profiling, D-value and z-value calculations and statistical analysis to establish validated process parameters. All test data, calibration certificates, and validation results are compiled into a comprehensive technical report compliant with FSSAI, ISO 22000, HACCP and GMP guidelines. This documentation provides scientific justification for process design, supports regulatory audits, and ensures traceable evidence of consistent equipment performance and product safety.
- Technical expertise in thermal process validation and microbial challenge testing
- Accredited laboratory with multidisciplinary analytical capability.
- Comprehensive reporting suitable for regulatory submission and audits
- Fast turnaround and on-site validation support
- End-to-end consulting: process optimization, hazard identification, and compliance assistance
- Trusted by leading food, beverage and nutraceutical manufacturers across India
Eureka offers precise and reliable Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Residual Testing to ensure compliance with stringent global food safety regulations. Using advanced Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS and GC-MS/MS) techniques, our laboratories accurately detect and quantify Ethylene Oxide and its toxic metabolite 2-Chloroethanol (2-CE) in diverse food matrices such as spices, herbs, seeds, cereals, teas and processed foods.
However, residual EtO or its degradation product 2-Chloroethanol may remain in the product if the aeration process is inadequate. These residues pose significant toxicological and carcinogenic risks and have been the subject of multiple international food recalls, particularly in the EU and US markets.
- Acute irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory tract
- Neurological effects, nausea and vomiting with short-term exposure
- Chronic toxicity, including carcinogenicity (classified as Group 1 Carcinogen by the IARC), liver and kidney damage and reproductive toxicity
- Conversion to 2-Chloroethanol a genotoxic compound that increases cumulative health risks
- EU Regulation (EU) 2023/915: Establishes maximum permissible levels of EtO in food and feed
- Commission Regulation (EU) No. 396/2005: Defines pesticide residue MRLs for EtO-treated commodities
- FSSAI Guidelines (India): Mandates EtO residue testing for imported and domestically traded food products
- Codex Alimentarius & USFDA Compliance: Recognizes EtO as a restricted fumigant requiring validated residue monitoring
Typical Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs):
| Food Matrix | MRL (mg/kg) |
|---|---|
| Spices, Herbs, and Condiments | 0.02 – 0.1 |
| Oilseeds (e.g., Sesame, Nuts) | 0.01 |
| Cereals, Pulses, and Processed Foods | 0.01 |
| Tea and Dried Plant Materials | 0.01 |
- Advanced Analytical Infrastructure: Equipped with GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS and real-time PCR platforms for multi-contaminant analysis.
- Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth understanding of global EtO compliance requirements for EU, USFDA, APEDA and GCC markets.
- Fast Turnaround: Rapid analysis and reporting to support product clearance and export documentation.
- Quality Assurance: Testing under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation ensuring data reliability and global acceptance.
- Quality & Authenticity: Fatty acid composition is a fingerprint of oils/fats; deviations may signal adulteration (e.g., cheaper oils added), mis-labelling (e.g., “virgin” vs. refined) or processing damage.
- Nutritional Labelling & Claims: Many regulatory regimes require the breakdown of fatty acid types (SFA, MUFA, PUFA, trans fats) for nutrition labels and health-claims.
- Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Monitoring of trans fatty acids (TFAs), oxidised or degraded fatty acids, or minor lipid oxidation products is critical for food safety and regulatory adherence.
- Process Monitoring & Shelf Life: Changes in fatty acid profile can track processing impact (heat / refining) or stability/degradation during storage and use (especially frying oils).
- Feed, Pharmaceutical & Nutraceuticals: Fatty acid profiling is used to characterise fish oils, botanical oils (omega-3/6/9), feeding/animal-nutrition formulations, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical lipid excipients.
- Edible oils & fats (refined, virgin, blended) – verifying origin/type, label compliance.
- Frying oils & repeated-use oils – monitoring degradation and trans fat formation.
- Fish oils, algal oils, botanical oils – omega-3/6 profiling, minor lipid components.
- Food products (e.g., spreads, bakery fats) – confirming fat type disclosure, SFA/MUFA/PUFA breakdown and trans fat limits.
- Pet-/animal-feeds – nutritional profiling, fatty acid balance for animal health.
- Nutraceutical/pharma lipid excipients – lipid composition for formulation and regulatory traceability.
- Environmental/industrial applications – e.g., lipid residues in soil/water (if applicable), fatty acid signature profiling for source tracking.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulation limits industrially-produced trans fatty acids (TFAs) in fats/oils used as ingredients in food products to no more than 2% (by weight of the total oils/fats) from 1 January 2022
- FSSAI’s “Food Products Standards & Food Additives” Amendment Regulations (2024) include new standards for vegetable oils, specifying fatty acid composition among the parameters (e.g., for corn oil) effective 1 May 2025
- For oils and fats, FSSAI’s recent amendments include refractive index updates (40 °C/50 °C) for edible oils as part of the first amendment notified on 21 Oct 2024, coming into force 1 May 2025
- Under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, several Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for fatty acids and derivatives (e.g., lauric acid, palm fatty acids, rice bran fatty acids, coconut fatty acids) were implemented & then withdrawn/modified. For example, India recently withdrew six QCOs for fatty acids and their derivatives as of 22 October 2025
- With growing global focus on health-impacts of fatty acids (especially trans fats and saturated fats), many jurisdictions require fatty acid profiling for nutritional labelling, health claims, origin-verification, and safety (oxidation products) purposes
- Laboratories must ensure method traceability, appropriate accreditation (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025), and validation of fatty acid profiling methodologies (GC-FID/GC-MS) in order to produce regulatory-ready reports
- Emerging regulatory interest covers minor lipid contaminants (e.g., oxidised fatty acids, trans isomer profiling, micro-lipidomics) and the effect of repeated frying / processing on fatty acid composition
- Synthetic and Natural Food Colors
- Preservatives (e.g., benzoates, sorbates, nitrates)
- Artificial Sweeteners (e.g., aspartame, saccharin, sucralose)
- Flavor Enhancers (e.g., MSG)
- Emulsifiers and Stabilizers
- Acidity Regulators and Anti-caking Agents
- As per FSSAI Food Additive Regulations, 2011, only approved additives within prescribed limits can be used in specific food categories.
- BIS standards, EU Regulation No. 1333/2008, and US FDA CFR Title 21 also define acceptable additive usage and labeling requirements.
- Qualitative and quantitative testing of additives in raw materials and finished products
- Detection of undeclared, misused, or excess additives
- Export compliance testing for global markets
- Support in label validation and regulatory documentation
- Gluten
- Crustaceans
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Soybeans
- Milk
- Nuts
- Celery and products thereof
- Mustard
- Sesame seeds
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites
- Lupin and products thereof
- Molluscs and products thereof
- Statement of identity
- The product’s net weight
- Manufacturer’s address
- Nutrition facts
- This is probably the most complicated part of a food label and must usually include serving size, nutrients, vitamins and minerals
- There are strict guidelines and less strict recommendations as to the font colors, type, size, background colors, hairlines and placement of this part of the label
- Ingredients list
- Some exceptions apply here as well. For example, for a single-ingredient food product, such as honey, you may not need to include an ingredients list. This is only a small example of how complex labeling regulations can be and how carefully you need to inform yourself in order to accurately present your product to the consumers
- Allergens, if present in food, should always be listed with the ingredients. If you are making any health claims such as “fat-free” you need to make sure your claim is 100% accurate.
- Overall migration testing
- Color migration
- Toxic metals
- Polyaromatic amine
- Sensory analysis
- Overall product safety analysis
- Restricted substance testing – Bisphenol A
- DNA-based detection : Identification of inserted foreign DNA within the genome of the plant
- Protein-based detection : Detection of specific proteins expressed as a result of the inserted genes
- Screening for common GMO events in soy, maize, cotton, canola, and others
- Event-specific and construct-specific detection
- Cross-contamination monitoring across the supply chain
- Support for non-GMO certification, labeling compliance, and export requirements
- Testing aligned with FSSAI, EU Regulations and other global standards
- Quantification against regulatory thresholds (e.g., 0.9% GMO limit in the EU for labeling)
- Sudan I-IV
- Rhodamine B
- Malachite Green
- Auramine O
- Orange II
- Metanil Yellow
- FSSAI (India) prohibits the use of non-permitted synthetic dyes in food under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
- EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and Regulation (EU) 2023/915 restrict the presence of Sudan dyes and other non-food grade colorants.
- Codex Alimentarius and US FDA also outline strict limitations on banned food dyes.
- Comprehensive screening of food and spice samples for illegal dyes
- Validation as per national and international regulatory requirements
- Export compliance testing for EU, US, GCC, and ASEAN markets
- Detailed quantification and trace-level detection reports
- Routine and surveillance testing support for food businesses
- Total Plate Count
- Yeast & Mold
- Coliforms
- Escherichia coli and O157 :H7
- Salmonella species
- Enterobacteriaceae
- Lactic Acid Bacteria
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Bacillus cereus
- Shigella species
- Campylobacter
- Spore-forming Mesophilic bacteria
- Spore-forming Thermophilic bacteria
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Clostridium species
- Cronobacter sakazakki
- Listeria monocytogenes & spp
- Thermophilic Flat sour spore formers
- Vibrio cholerae
- Vibrio parahaemolyticus
- Fecal streptococci
- MS2 Phage
- GMO & cotton GMO by RT PCR
- Salmonella by RT PCR
- Sesame allergen by RT PCR
- Vegan test by RT PCR
- C.botulinum
- Alicyclobacillus (TAB)
- Heat resistance mold
- Helminth eggs in wastewater
- EN 1276 – Evaluation of the bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants
- EN 13697 – Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity
- AATCC 100 – Antimicrobial fabric test
- AATCC 147 – Antimicrobial Activity of Textile Materials
- Detection of packaging-based contamination
- Quality assurance for edible oils, cereals, chocolate, and dry foods
- Identification of mineral oil migration in long shelf-life products
- Support for “clean label” and “no mineral oil” claims
- Prevention of product recalls and import rejections
- European Commission has issued recommendations (e.g., EU 2017/84) for monitoring MOAH/MOSH in food and food contact materials, especially in infant and children’s products.
- FSSAI (India) is reviewing alignment with global best practices and has acknowledged growing concerns related to MOAH/MOSH migration from packaging.
- Several food retailers in Europe now demand non-detectable levels of MOAH in private-label products.
- German BfR and EFSA have recommended continuous monitoring, especially in dry foods packaged in recycled materials.
- State-of-the-art LC-GC-FID/MS instrumentation
- Low detection limits, suitable for infant food and exports
- Rapid turnaround and expert analytical support
- Compliance-ready reports for regulatory audits and certifications
- Calorific value
- Energy
- Protein
- Vitamin
- Mineral
- Carbohydrate
- Sugar
- Fibre
- Fats
- Saturated Fatty Acids
- Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
- As per EU
- As per APEDA
- As per USP 561
- As per FSSAI
- AS per SFDA
- As per Codex
- As per Korean regulation
- As per EP
- As per USDA NOP for organic
- As per US NOP for organic food
- Special molecules & Plant growth regulators
It is evidently acknowledged, “food contamination that occurs in one place may affect the health of consumers living on the other side of the planet”. Contamination issues are volatile both in terms of their nature and size, and as such can be costly in terms of lost productivity and vastly negotiated timeframes. An initial solution for the contamination issue is mandatory, it is essential that the solution is long-lasting and that confidence to restore the ongoing productivity.
- Melamine
- Residues
- Heavy Metals
- Dioxins
- GMO
- Mycotoxins and more
- Organoleptic properties
- Rancidity
- Texture changes
- Moisture loss
- Moisture gain
- Staling
- Flavor loss
- Light induced changes
- Microbial spoilage
Species identification has traditionally been based on morphological data and implemented in dichotomous identification keys. With easy access to increasingly affordable DNA sequencing, specimens can also be identified through sequence similarity in taxonomically curated sequence databases. Even a very short stretch of DNA can be sufficiently informative to enable the clustering of conspecific species. A single molecular marker is therefore often sufficient for DNA “barcoding,” where a unique sequence of a particular marker is referred to as a species barcode.
- Analytical testing (dealing with objective facts about products)
- Affective testing (dealing with subjective facts such as preferences)
- Perception (the biochemical and psychological aspects of sensation)