Nutrition & Food Chemistry 

Today’s consumers are increasingly interested in what they eat and require information that is accurate and easy to understand. It is advisable in all circumstances, and a legal requirement in some, for food manufacturers to exploit the “on pack” opportunity to inform the consumer.

Premier Analytical’s Comprehensive Nutrition Service ensures accurate “on pack” information for your consumer.

Premier Analytical Services is one of the leading food testing centres in Europe, can supply you with a service that is designed to provide comprehensive support in this area delivering the highest value for money by offering:

  • Consultancy advice
  • Comprehensive scope of UKAS accredited analyses
  • Fast, reliable results and interpretation.

You can rely on our advice and analytical results to provide accurate information for your consumers.

You can be confident that as one of our customers we will help you to implement the most appropriate testing regime.

You can use our service to monitor your products with regard to any Nutrition Claims that are made.

The Comprehensive Nutrition Service from Premier Analytical Services provides information on which you and your consumers can rely.

Nutrition Testing

Mandatory Nutrition Labelling

Nutrition Testing
What the numbers mean and advice on any course of action that may be required – providing you with a Comprehensive Nutrition Service.

Information must be declared per 100g 0r 100ml of the food.  Or per portion, with the number of portions in a pack listed.

Mandatory Nutrition

UKAS Accredited

Mandatory Nutrition Declaration
Mandatory Nutrition Declaration new format:
ENERGY by calculation

Yes

FAT by analysis

Yes

SATURATED FATS by analysis

Yes

CARBOHYDRATE by calculation (or difference)

Yes

SUGAR PROFILE by analysis

Yes

PROTEIN by analysis

Yes

SALT by Sodium (by analysis)

Yes

Measured for calculation but not declared on pack:
MOISTURE by analysis

Yes

ASH by analysis

Yes

DIETARY FIBRE by analyis (AOAC method)*

Yes

*Please note that if it is opted to declare Fibre it is positioned above Protein in the list. It is only mandatory for this to be tested and declared in products making a nutrition or health claim about fibre or energy although EC guidelines are that Products containing  3% or more of fibre should include it in the testing to enable accurate calculation of Energy values. Most foods contain <3g/100g of fibre, the main exceptions are many cereals and pulses and products containing high levels of these.  In practice most manufacturers are still including it in the testing and declaring on pack.

 

Please refer to the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation for the specific matrices.

Other Major Nutritional Components

UKAS

Accredited

Lower Reporting Limits

Meat content

– by Chemical analysis

By Stubbs & Moore calculation based on analysis of Fat, Moisture, Protein & Ash on meat portion of the product

Yes 

N/A

Meat content

– by separation

By mechanical separation and weight measurements

No

N/A

pH

Yes 

Specific gravity / Density

No

Chloride, water soluble For Salt by Chloride

Yes 

0.01g/100g

Fructans

(Oligofructose & Inulin)

Based on AOAC method 997.08

(As the method cannot distinguish between oligofructose and inulin, we require confirmation of which type is present for accurate quantification of fructans) 

Yes

(Bakery & Dairy Food Types)

0.5g/100g

Short chain length oligomers Glucose oligomers by HPLC

No

Sugars by refractometry (Brix)

Yes

Starch glucose using acid hydrolysis

No

 

Please refer to the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation for the specific matrices.

Other Minor Nutritional Components

UKAS

Accredited

Lower Reporting Limits

Alcohol content

(grape musts, wine etc)

Specific gravity

No

Beta Glucans Megazyme mixed linkage Beta Glucans test – Oat and Barley Beta glucans in cereals and cereal based products ONLY

No

Caffeine

Yes

50 mg/kg

Capsaicin in spices

HPLC

(X16 for Scoville Value)

No

Chlorinated lipids in foods containing chlorine treated flour

No

Free Amino Acids

Suite contains the following free amino acids:

LODs (mg/kg) as follows:

Alanine Ala (A)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Asparagine Asn (N)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Aspartic acid Asp (D)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Glutamic acid Glu (E)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Glutamine Gln (Q)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Glycine Gly (G)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Isoleucine Ile (I)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Leucine Leu (L)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Phenylalanine Phe (F)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Serine Ser (S)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Threonine Thr (T)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Tyrosine Tyr (Y)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Valine Val (V)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Monosodium Glutamate NB we cannot distinguish amino acid from its sodium salt. We measure Glutamate and express it as MSG

No

Inorganic anions by HPLC

(Sample matrix dependant)

Nitrate

No

10 mg/kg

Iodide

No

10 mg/kg

Phosphate

No

10 mg/kg

Sulphate

No

10 mg/kg

Nucleosides & Nucleotides in yeast, flavourings & fermentation liquors

Nucleosides= Adenosine/ Cytosine/ Guanosine/ Inosine Uridine

Nucleotides= Adenosine monophosphate AMP/ CMP/ GMP/ IMP/ UMP

No

Osmolality in drinks (also Milk Freezing Point Depression)

No

Phospholipids

No

Phytic acid

No

Purines (total)

& Pyrimidines (total)

Purines=  Adenine/ Guanine/ Hypoxanthine/ Inosine/ Xanthine

Pyrimidines= Cytosine/ Uracil

No

Quinine in soft drinks

No

Titratable acidity Expressed mainly as acetic or citric acid but could be others

Yes

 

Please refer to the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation for the specific matrices.

Consultancy & Advice

Following publication of the new European Food Information Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, nutrition labelling becomes compulsory in the UK and throughout the EU for nearly all pre-packed foods for sale retail or to a caterer from 13th December 2016.

This new Regulation also changes the format that must be used for nutrition labelling of foods in the EU – all foods produced from 13th December 2014 must comply with the new rules.

The rules for making nutrition or health claims on foods in the EU have also recently undergone major changes and continue to evolve.

Nutritional labelling is a complex area wherein the potential for error is very high. Premier Analytical Services’s consultants can help you to get it right first time with advice that will answer questions such as:

What nutrition labelling rules apply to your particular food product?

Do the claims you make on pack or in advertising fall within the scope of the Nutrition & Health Claims Regulation – how does this affect the nutrition declaration?

What should be included in the declaration and what format and layout should be used?

What do you do about nutrients not listed in the regulations or for which there are no conversion factors?

What are the different requirements for vitamins and minerals as well as PARNUT foods?

What is the correct and best way to derive the information for the declaration?

Nutrition Testing
Information Deviation

Information should be based on:

  • Calculation from known or actual average values of the ingredients used OR
  • Calculation from generally established and accepted data OR
  • Analysis. The method of derivation preferred by the major manufacturers, retailers and food industry authorities.

Calculation

If this is your preferred approach the experts at Premier Analytical Services can carry out calculations on your behalf or assist you to select and perform the most appropriate calculation.

Analysis

At the heart of our service is the full range of tests required to derive all the information needed to make accurate nutrition declarations. All of our analyses in this area are accredited by UKAS to the ISO 17025 standard. As such you can rely on the results and be confident that the declarations you are making on your products are a true representation that can in turn be relied upon by your consumers.

Interpretation

What the numbers mean and advice on any course of action that may be required – providing you with a Comprehensive Nutrition Service.

Today’s consumers are increasingly interested in what they eat and require information that is accurate and easy to understand. It is advisable in all circumstances, and a legal requirement in some, for food manufacturers to exploit the “on pack” opportunity to inform the consumer.

Premier Analytical’s Comprehensive Nutrition Service ensures accurate “on pack” information for your consumer.

Premier Analytical Services is one of the leading food testing centres in Europe, can supply you with a service that is designed to provide comprehensive support in this area delivering the highest value for money by offering:

  • Consultancy advice
  • Comprehensive scope of UKAS accredited analyses
  • Fast, reliable results and interpretation.

You can rely on our advice and analytical results to provide accurate information for your consumers.

You can be confident that as one of our customers we will help you to implement the most appropriate testing regime.

You can use our service to monitor your products with regard to any Nutrition Claims that are made.

The Comprehensive Nutrition Service from Premier Analytical Services provides information on which you and your consumers can rely.

Nutrition Testing

Mandatory Nutrition Labelling

Nutrition Testing
What the numbers mean and advice on any course of action that may be required – providing you with a Comprehensive Nutrition Service.

Information must be declared per 100g 0r 100ml of the food.  Or per portion, with the number of portions in a pack listed.

Mandatory Nutrition

UKAS Accredited

Mandatory Nutrition Declaration
Mandatory Nutrition Declaration new format:
ENERGY by calculation

Yes

FAT by analysis

Yes

SATURATED FATS by analysis

Yes

CARBOHYDRATE by calculation (or difference)

Yes

SUGAR PROFILE by analysis

Yes

PROTEIN by analysis

Yes

SALT by Sodium (by analysis)

Yes

Measured for calculation but not declared on pack:
MOISTURE by analysis

Yes

ASH by analysis

Yes

DIETARY FIBRE by analyis (AOAC method)*

Yes

*Please note that if it is opted to declare Fibre it is positioned above Protein in the list. It is only mandatory for this to be tested and declared in products making a nutrition or health claim about fibre or energy although EC guidelines are that Products containing  3% or more of fibre should include it in the testing to enable accurate calculation of Energy values. Most foods contain <3g/100g of fibre, the main exceptions are many cereals and pulses and products containing high levels of these.  In practice most manufacturers are still including it in the testing and declaring on pack.

 

Please refer to the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation for the specific matrices.

Other Major Nutritional Components

UKAS

Accredited

Lower Reporting Limits

Meat content

– by Chemical analysis

By Stubbs & Moore calculation based on analysis of Fat, Moisture, Protein & Ash on meat portion of the product

Yes 

N/A

Meat content

– by separation

By mechanical separation and weight measurements

No

N/A

pH

Yes 

Specific gravity / Density

No

Chloride, water soluble For Salt by Chloride

Yes 

0.01g/100g

Fructans

(Oligofructose & Inulin)

Based on AOAC method 997.08

(As the method cannot distinguish between oligofructose and inulin, we require confirmation of which type is present for accurate quantification of fructans) 

Yes

(Bakery & Dairy Food Types)

0.5g/100g

Short chain length oligomers Glucose oligomers by HPLC

No

Sugars by refractometry (Brix)

Yes

Starch glucose using acid hydrolysis

No

 

Please refer to the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation for the specific matrices.

Other Minor Nutritional Components

UKAS

Accredited

Lower Reporting Limits

Alcohol content

(grape musts, wine etc)

Specific gravity

No

Beta Glucans Megazyme mixed linkage Beta Glucans test – Oat and Barley Beta glucans in cereals and cereal based products ONLY

No

Caffeine

Yes

50 mg/kg

Capsaicin in spices

HPLC

(X16 for Scoville Value)

“Scoville Heat Unit (SHU)      This is an expression of the amount of heat produced by capsaicinoids, which are typically found in products containing chilli peppers. It is calculated from the measurement of three major capsaicinoids: capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin and nordihydrocapsaicin “

No

No

Free Amino Acids

Suite contains the following free amino acids:

LODs (mg/kg) as follows:

Alanine Ala (A)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Asparagine Asn (N)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Aspartic acid Asp (D)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Glutamic acid Glu (E)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Glutamine Gln (Q)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Glycine Gly (G)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Isoleucine Ile (I)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Leucine Leu (L)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Phenylalanine Phe (F)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Serine Ser (S)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Threonine Thr (T)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Tyrosine Tyr (Y)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Valine Val (V)

Yes

10 mg/kg

Monosodium Glutamate NB we cannot distinguish amino acid from its sodium salt. We measure Glutamate and express it as MSG

No

Inorganic anions by HPLC

(Sample matrix dependant)

Nitrate

No

10 mg/kg

Iodide

No

10 mg/kg

Phosphate

No

10 mg/kg

Sulphate

No

10 mg/kg

Nucleosides & Nucleotides in yeast, flavourings & fermentation liquors

Nucleosides= Adenosine/ Cytosine/ Guanosine/ Inosine Uridine

Nucleotides= Adenosine monophosphate AMP/ CMP/ GMP/ IMP/ UMP

No

Osmolality in drinks (also Milk Freezing Point Depression)

No

Phospholipids

No

Phytic acid

No

Purines (total)

& Pyrimidines (total)

Purines=  Adenine/ Guanine/ Hypoxanthine/ Inosine/ Xanthine

Pyrimidines= Cytosine/ Uracil

No

Quinine in soft drinks

No

Titratable acidity Expressed mainly as acetic or citric acid but could be others

Yes

 

Please refer to the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation for the specific matrices.

Consultancy & Advice

Following publication of the new European Food Information Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, nutrition labelling becomes compulsory in the UK and throughout the EU for nearly all pre-packed foods for sale retail or to a caterer from 13th December 2016.

This new Regulation also changes the format that must be used for nutrition labelling of foods in the EU – all foods produced from 13th December 2014 must comply with the new rules.

The rules for making nutrition or health claims on foods in the EU have also recently undergone major changes and continue to evolve.

Nutritional labelling is a complex area wherein the potential for error is very high. Premier Analytical Services’s consultants can help you to get it right first time with advice that will answer questions such as:

What nutrition labelling rules apply to your particular food product?

Do the claims you make on pack or in advertising fall within the scope of the Nutrition & Health Claims Regulation – how does this affect the nutrition declaration?

What should be included in the declaration and what format and layout should be used?

What do you do about nutrients not listed in the regulations or for which there are no conversion factors?

What are the different requirements for vitamins and minerals as well as PARNUT foods?

What is the correct and best way to derive the information for the declaration?

Nutrition Testing
Information Deviation

Information should be based on:

  • Calculation from known or actual average values of the ingredients used OR
  • Calculation from generally established and accepted data OR
  • Analysis. The method of derivation preferred by the major manufacturers, retailers and food industry authorities.

Calculation

If this is your preferred approach the experts at Premier Analytical Services can carry out calculations on your behalf or assist you to select and perform the most appropriate calculation.

Analysis

At the heart of our service is the full range of tests required to derive all the information needed to make accurate nutrition declarations. All of our analyses in this area are accredited by UKAS to the ISO 17025 standard. As such you can rely on the results and be confident that the declarations you are making on your products are a true representation that can in turn be relied upon by your consumers.

Interpretation

What the numbers mean and advice on any course of action that may be required – providing you with a Comprehensive Nutrition Service.

Nutrition Testing