Food & Feed testing

Eurofins is the world leader in food and feed testing, deploying a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art analytical techniques in order to support its clients' increasingly stringent quality and safety standards. The Group has built up a global network of laboratories and Competence Centres that perform more than 80 million assays per year to establish the safety, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of food.

This offering of over 25,000 tests includes the key areas of food safety and composition testing, such as nutritional analyses, analyses for traces of residues and contaminants (pesticides, mycotoxins, veterinary residues, heavy metals), microbiological testing, GMO and allergen testing and the determination of authenticity and origin, in addition to a range of specialist tests.

Eurofins brings added value to its service by focusing on fast turn-around times and the rapid development of new tests in response to customers needs. The Group uses state-of-the-art equipment such as high-resolution GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, real-time PCR systems and high-throughput DNA sequencers. Combined with accreditation in many jurisdictions and Group experts sitting on numerous governmental and industry committees, Eurofins offers its customers the highest quality of service in the market.

Expertise concentrated in Competence Centres

Food testing has advanced considerably over the past decade and specialised areas require state-of-the-art equipment and experienced personnel. Challenges include technical, matrix or industry specific and legal issues. For that reason Eurofins has created Competence Centres to concentrate expertise and samples across the Group in the areas of authenticity and origin control, pesticides, dioxins and persistent organic pollutants (POP), organic and inorganic trace residues and contaminants, vitamins, mycotoxins, heavy metals and trace elements, veterinary residues, irradiation, food contact materials, allergen testing and GMOs, to name but a few areas of our expertise.

Local laboratories drawing on global expertise

Eurofins' global network of laboratories offers the best of both worlds. Customers have access to a laboratory close to them, yet can still take advantage of specialised expertise provided by laboratories dedicated to the specific analytical challenge at hand. For example, a laboratory with more than 130 members of staff dedicated to pesticide analysis, or a dioxin laboratory with 10 high-resolution mass spectrometers is very likely to have encountered any given problem before. With Eurofins' advanced IT and logistics solutions customers consequently have access to the Competence Centre network irrespective of their location.

Minimising risk

Food scares can be devastating for any food company. With the lowest detection limits offered by any commercial laboratory, Eurofins helps to ensure that its customers are not hit by the next food scare. The Group's international presence and participation in many industrial and regulatory bodies, allows it to advise customers in advance of potential scares or legal obligations and therefore to have the latest analytical methods available in time.

Expert advice

Analyses can produce myriads of numbers, which can be overwhelming. Our services therefore include answering questions related to the selection of the most relevant assays and the all-important interpretation of results. In fact, each customer has a dedicated and highly qualified Analytical Service Manager to give this specialist advice. We also provide advice on labelling, on-site checks for hygiene and allergens and the development of traceability concepts along the food chain.

For more information on our products and services, or any other assistance, please contact your local Eurofins laboratory