Services - Food Analytical Chemistry

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Analytical Chemistry can determine the presence of a known chemical in a food.

The techniques of this science are used to identify the substances which may be present in a material and to determine the amounts of the identified substances.

The nutritional value of food is determined by chemical analysis for major components such as protein, fat and carbohydrates and trace components such as vitamins, sugar profile, and minerals. Indeed even the calories in a food are calculated from its chemical analysis.

Our highly trained scientists use an array of modern analytical equipment, such as Gas Chromatography (GC), GC Mass Spectrometer, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers (with or without graphite furnace). 

Detailed Sugar Profiles are available using Liquid Chromatography with a Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD). This is currently the most accurate method available.

For determining added Sulfites to dried garlic we use Reversed-Phase Ion-Pairing Liquid Chromatography with Post-Column Detection, the most accurate method currently available.

If you need to know if pesticide residues, solvent residue or regulated additives are present and in which quantities, our analysts will find out.

We test for Heavy Metals such as Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic, as well as, other elements such as Copper or Zinc. Other contaminants such as Aflatoxin and Patulin can also be identified.

We test for chemicals that affect the flavor of foods such as Peroxide Value and Free Fatty Acids for the determination of rancidity, Volatile Oils, Pungency (Scoville Heat Units) and Piperine contents for aroma and taste. 

We can identify legal and illegal colors used in products. We now test for Sudan Red and several other illegal dyes! (Shoe Polish Color in your Paprika?) We determine the natural color in spices such as paprika and tumeric using ASTA approved methods.

Strasburger & Siegel produces analytical data you can rely upon. See the Fees list for more detail or Contact Us for more information.