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Food analysis at WESSLING

The efficient and reliable analysis of WESSLING supports food manufacturers and suppliers of raw materials in complying with legal requirements and ensures the highest standards in the field of food safety.

Microbiological analysis

The long-term market success of food and the associated product brands depends to a large extent on their quality and safety, because consumers perceive and remember the quality or quality flaws of food in a very sensitive way.

We protect your brand for you as a food manufacturer or retailer and support you in meeting legal requirements by testing the quality and safety of your products in our accredited laboratories. Therefore we provide all methods of modern food analysis: from chemical-physical analysis to sensory tests to microbiological and molecular biological analyses and the identification of foreign bodies. Our competent experts will advise you comprehensively in the planning of sampling and analysis.

Food analysis: the services of WESSLING in detail

Food analysis: the services of WESSLING in detail

Chemical-physical analysis

Chemical-physical analysis

Through reliable, independent food analysis, our experts at WESSLING create the basis for a safe evaluation of your food.

Experts at WESSLING evaluate a chemical-physical food analysis
Our state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and efficient processes ensure the our customers receive reliable, on-schedule results of chemical-physical tests of their food.

Our range of services:

  • Nutritional analysis
  • Value-determining components and secondary plant substances
  • Additives
  • Authenticity verfication, food fraud detection
  • Undesirable ingredients
  • Key figures
  • Histological tests
  • Identification of foreign bodies

Food analysis: the services of WESSLING in detail

Residues and contaminants

Residues and contaminants

The reliable detection of residues and contaminants in food places the highest demands on laboratory analysis. Thanks to our state-of-the-art equipment, WESSLING experts examine raw materials and products using multi or individual methods.

Performing food analysis in the laboratory: laboratory technicians during the examination for residues and contaminants
We provide a comprehensive service from sampling and analysis to expert evaluation of the results. Should residues or contaminants be detected in your food sample, we will be happy to support you through our many years of experience in detecting the cause.

Our range of services:

  • Dioxins and polycyclic biphenyls (dl-PCB, ndl-PCB)
  • Mycotoxins
  • Chlorate, perchlorate
  • Heavy metals
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • Pharmacologically active substances (human and veterinary medicines)
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds (QAV (DDAC, BAC))
  • Phthalates
  • Mineral oil components (MOSH/MOAH)
  • Process contaminants

Food analysis: the services of WESSLING in detail

Molecular biological analysis

Molecular biological analysis

In order to achieve the shortest possible testing times for our customers, WESSLING Laboratories use modern protein and nucleic acid analysis methods such as PCR, DNA sequencing and immunoenzymatic investigations (ELISA).

Preparation of molecular biological food analysis for animal species identification

Our range of services:

  • Animal species determination
  • Genetically modified organisms (GMO)
  • Allergens
  • Bacteriotoxins

Food analysis: the services of WESSLING in detail

Identification of foreign bodies

Identification of foreign bodies

Physical solids which are not part of the recipe and can be sensory detected are named as foreign bodies in food.

Identification of foreign bodies in food through laboratory analysis
Foreign bodies include metal parts, wood or glass splinters, pieces of textile, hair, plastic particles, cigarette butts, tablets, paint particles, insect and other animal fragments. They can be contained in raw materials due to harvesting, but can also be introduced into food during the further production process, storage or transport. In addition, entry into food can occur during its preparation or while in the supermarket. Depending on their nature, foreign objects can pose a physical hazard and are generally undesirable in food. The type and origin of a foreign body is not always immediately apparent. In order to obtain further information, identify or exclude sources, an assessment using laboratory analysis is helpful.

Our range of services:

  • Documentation of dimensions
  • Photographic documentation of buildup or striking deformations
  • Visual inspection for a rough classification of the material
  • Light microscopic examination of biological materials and powdery foreign bodies to identify amorphous or crystalline structures
  • FT-IR spectroscopy for a non-destructive examination of plastics, e.g. foils, or hard plastic particles
  • ATR technology to identify the type of polymer and additives, e.g. plasticisers for homogeneous materials
  • EDX to identify glass particles, metallic or mineral foreign bodies or other predominantly inorganic particles, identification of elements from atomic number 5 (boron), quantification from atomic number 11 (sodium)
  • SEM images for further information on the microstructure of a foreign body
  • X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) or mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) to examine element composition
  • Molecular biological analysis of animal or plant fragments, either via species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or via PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism)

Food analysis: the services of WESSLING in detail

Microbiological analysis

Microbiological analysis

One of the most important criteria for the marketability of a food product is that it is microbiologically safe. The WESSLING Group has very efficient microbiological laboratories for food testing.

Microbiological laboratory analysis
The laboratory for microbiological food analysis at the Paris location, with its state-of-the-art equipment, is divided into 400 square metres of laboratory space. This is in accordance with Bioactive Substance Ordinance 2 and 3, and our one-way street principle, whereby all samples pass through our microbiological laboratory, ensures clean analysis by reducing the risk of contamination.   Our range of services also includes testing probiotic products for their content of specific microorganisms and the identification of microorganisms.

Our range of services:

  • Cultural procedures
  • Rapid methods
  • Spoilage organisms
  • Hygiene indicators
  • Identification of microorganisms
  • Pathogenic microorganisms
  • Studies for minimum shelf life

Food analysis: the services of WESSLING in detail

Compressed air quality measurements

Increase product safety with compressed air quality measurements (ISO 8573)

Compressed air is used in almost all production and packaging processes. Contaminated compressed air can mean a loss of quality of the final products or even expensive production downtime. Based on our many years of experience with certified industrial companies, we recommend that compressed air in operational processes be regularly examined for contamination with oil, particle or microbiological contaminants.

The WESSLING measuring station has developed new mobile test benches for the food and pharmaceutical industries in order to be able to respond to the special requirements of our customers quickly and flexibly while assuring quality. In addition, we investigate the causes of compressed air contamination and advise you on how to solve the problem.

State-of- the-art measuring technology from WESSLING: independent and directly on site

We offer our customers a complete solution for assessing compressed air quality with exact quality-assured measurements and independent expert reports in accordance with the currently applicable international ISO guidelines.

You will receive a detailed test report on the investigations carried out, including an assessment of the purity classes for each measuring point according to DIN ISO 8573-1, and thus also reliable data for your quality management system.

Compressed air quality tests in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food companies

The purity requirement for compressed air in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food companies, as well as the beverage industry, depends on the technical application of the compressed air. 

Our services:

  • Standard-compliant compressed air quality measurements in accordance with the requirements of ISO 8573
  • Mobile WESSLING test benches
  • Analysis in our own laboratory
  • Calibration with customer-specific compressor oil
  • Cause analysis in the case of elevated residual oil or particle concentrations
 

Your contact for compressed air quality measurements

We will be happy to support you.

Stephane Fievet

Your contact for food analysis

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