What is Food Shelf Life Testing

Food Shelf Life Testing evaluates how long a product maintains its quality, taste, safety, and nutritional value under specified storage conditions. It identifies the optimal storage duration and best-before dates by monitoring changes in physical, chemical, and microbiological properties over time. This testing can be performed through both Accelerated and Real-Time Shelf Life testing methods.

Our comprehensive testing solutions help food manufacturers, processors, and retailers to optimize product longevity, ensure regulatory compliance, and meet consumer expectations.

Accelerated vs. Real-Time Shelf Life Testing

• Accelerated Shelf Life Testing: This method speeds up the aging process by exposing products to higher-than-normal temperatures, humidity, and other conditions. It helps to quickly estimate how the product will behave over a longer period under typical storage conditions. This approach is ideal when you need faster results for new product launches or market expansion.
• Real-Time Shelf Life Testing: This method involves storing the product under normal conditions and evaluating its quality over time. It provides a more accurate representation of the product’s actual shelf life and how it will perform in real-world conditions. Real-time testing is critical for regulatory compliance and long-term quality assurance.

The Importance of Food Shelf Life Testing

• Extend Product Shelf Life: Identify ways to enhance your product’s shelf life through formulation or packaging adjustments.
• Ensure Food Safety: Detect potential risks early, ensuring your products remain safe for consumption throughout their shelf life.
• Regulatory Compliance: Meet local and international food safety regulations by accurately determining use-by dates and best-before dates.
• Boost Brand Reputation: Ensure your products reach consumers at their best quality, enhancing customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Food Shelf Life Test in BIOCHEM

Biochem Laboratories offers a comprehensive range of testing methods to determine the shelf life of your food products:

1) Microbiological Testing

Monitor the growth of spoilage microorganisms such as total bacteria count, yeast, and mold that can affect food safety and quality. This includes pathogen testing to ensure that harmful bacteria, like Salmonella and Listeria, do not develop during the storage period.

2) Chemical Analysis

Measure changes in nutritional content, pH levels, moisture content, and oxidation over time, which can affect the flavor and safety of the product. Testing for rancidity in fats and oils is particularly important for maintaining taste and aroma.

3) Sensory Evaluation

Assess changes in taste, texture, smell, and appearance through trained sensory panels. Sensory analysis is crucial for maintaining product appeal and customer satisfaction throughout the shelf life.

4) Physical Testing

Analyze the physical changes in products, such as texture, viscosity, and color stability, that occur during storage. This helps in understanding how the product’s physical characteristics change and impact consumer acceptability.

5) Packaging Analysis

Evaluate the effectiveness of your packaging materials in preserving food quality. We assess oxygen transmission rates (OTR), water vapor transmission rates (WVTR), and seal integrity to ensure your packaging is capable of extending shelf life.

Industries We Serve

Our Food Shelf Life Testing services cater to a variety of industries, including:

• Food & Beverage Manufacturers
• Retail & Supermarkets
• Food Distributors
• Catering & Hospitality
• Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Products