Here are the specifics on shelf life testing, but
these can changed to fit your product.
Shelf Life Study -
Objective: The
objective of these studies is to determine the shelf life of the foods for
human consumption,
but can be modified to apply
to pet food testing..
Determining Factors:
- At what temperature will the test be performed?
- If samples will be sold refrigerated, then tests
will be run using a refrigerator. (Page 2)
- If samples will be sold frozen, then tests will
be run using a freezer (Page 2)
- If samples will be stored at room temperature
then there are two options (Page 3 and 4)
- How long would you like to run the study?
Refrigerator Shelf Life
- 1 to 6 week study $100.00 + analytical tests
- 6 to 12 week study $175.00 + analytical tests
- Over 12 weeks $200.00 + analytical tests
See individual temperatures for more detail
Freezer Shelf Life
- 1 to 6 month study $100.00 + analytical tests
- 6 to 12 month study $175.00 + analytical tests
- Over 12 months $200.00 + analytical tests
See individual temperatures sheets for more detail
Ambient, Room Temperature, Shelf Life
- 1 to 6 month study $100.00 + analytical tests
- 6 to 12 month study $175.00 + analytical tests
- Over 12 months $200.00 + analytical tests
See individual temperatures sheets for more detail
Accelerated
Shelf Life (Temperature: 40 deg C/Relative Humidity: 75%)
Microanalysis
can NOT be performed on accelerated shelf life testing.
- 1 to 6 week study $100.00 + analytical tests
- 6 to 12 week study $175.00 + analytical tests
- Over 12 weeks $200.00 + analytical tests
See individual temperatures for more detail
- Can you stop the test early?
- Yes, you can stop testing whenever you like and
no further charges will be accrued.
- How many samples do you need to send in?
- Typically, we need an individual sample, in the
packaging you plan to distribute product in, for each time you want a
sample pulled plus an initial screen.
For
example, if you were running a 12 month room temperature study, where we pulled
a sample once a month, we would need 13 samples, one for month 0, then one for
each proceeding month.
Refrigerated and
Freezer Samples
Refrigerator shelf life
studies have the ability to assess changes in food quality and microbiological
growth This study will determine how long a sample will remain safe to consume
while at refrigerated or freezer
conditions. The frequency of the test is dependent on product.
Refrigerated Samples
Test Protocols
Typically a sample will be pulled 1-2 times a week and can be
tested for the following:
Testing
|
Test
|
Frequency
|
Cost
|
Total Cost
|
|
Food
Screen*
|
1-2
times a study
|
$60/analysis
|
|
|
Peroxide
Value
|
1
time a week
|
$25/analysis
|
Dependent
on number of times pulled
|
|
Plate
Count
|
1
time a week
|
$15/analysis
|
|
Yeast/Mold
|
1
time a week
|
$20/analysis
|
|
Sensory
(color, aroma, texture)
|
1
time a week
|
$10/analysis
|
|
Lactobacillus
|
1
time a month
|
$20/analysis
|
* Food screen includes Total
Plate Count, Total Coliforms, E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonellae,
Yeast and Mold.
Refrigerated shelf life
studies can be customized to meet client's need, to speak with someone on
customization please call the Food Laboratory at Midwest Laboratories at
402-334-7770.
Additional tests can be
performed upon request for an additional charge.-
Freezer Samples
Test Protocols
Typically a sample will be pulled once a month to once every other
month and can be tested for the following:
Testing
|
Test
|
Frequency
|
Cost
|
Total Cost
|
|
Food
Screen*
|
1-2
times a study
|
$60/analysis
|
|
|
Sensory
(color, aroma, texture)
|
Each
time a sample is pulled
|
$10/analysis
|
Dependent
on number of times pulled
|
|
Vitamins
|
Each
Time a sample is pulled
|
Varies
by vitamin
|
* Food screen includes Total
Plate Count, Total Coliforms, E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonellae,
Yeast and Mold.
Freezer shelf life studies
can be customized to meet client's need, to speak with someone on customization
please call the Food Laboratory at Midwest Laboratories at 402-334-7770.
Additional tests can be
performed upon request for an additional charge.-
Ambient Room
Temperature
Room temperature studies have
the ability to assess changes in appearance, odor, microbiological growth as
well as rancidity.
Test Protocols:
Typically,
12 Month Shelf Life (Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity) with a
combination of some of the following tests performed. (Total Samples: 13)
Testing
|
Test
|
Frequency
|
Cost
|
Total Cost
|
|
Food
Screen*
|
1-2
times a study
|
$60/analysis
|
Dependent
on number of times performed
|
|
Moisture
(vacuum loss on drying 100 deg C)
|
1/month
- Total of 13
|
$15/analysis
|
$156
|
|
Plate
Count
|
1/month
- Total of 13
|
$15/analysis
|
$182
|
|
Yeast/Mold
|
1/month
- Total of 13
|
$20/analysis
|
$234
|
|
Sensory
(color, aroma, texture)
|
1/month
- Total of 13
|
$10/analysis
|
$130
|
|
Peroxide
Value
|
1/month
- Total of 13
|
$25/analysis
|
$325
|
* Food screen includes Total
Plate Count, Total Coliforms, E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonellae,
Yeast and Mold.
Room temperature studies can
be customized to meet client's need, to speak with someone on customization
please call the Food Laboratory at Midwest Laboratories at 402-334-7770.
Additional tests can be
performed upon request for an additional charge.
Accelerated
Accelerated studies will
assess changes in moisture content, water activity, and sensory
characteristics. They can NOT be used
to test for microbial growth.
Test Protocols:
Typically, 12 Week Accelerated
Shelf Life with a combination of some of the following tests performed
(Temperature: 40 deg C/Relative Humidity: 75%) Total Samples: 13
Testing
|
Test
|
Frequency
|
Cost
|
Total Cost
|
|
Water
Activity
|
1/week
- Total of 13
|
$20/analysis
|
$260
|
|
Moisture
(vacuum loss on drying 100 deg C)
|
1/week
- Total of 13
|
$15/analysis
|
$156
|
|
Sensory
(color, aroma, texture)
|
1/week
- Total of 13
|
$10/analysis
|
$130
|
|
Peroxide
|
1/week-
Total of 13
|
$25/
analysis
|
$325
|
Accelerated studies can be
customized to meet client's need, to speak with someone on customization please
call the Food Laboratory at Midwest Laboratories at 402-334-7770.
Additional tests can be
performed upon request for an additional charge.
