Key services

Pesticides

• Multi-method analysis using QuEChERS and DFG S19 methodologies
• Group and individual methods
• Polar group method

Relevant group and individual methods (pesticides)

• Acid herbicides
• Dithiocarbamates
• Phosphonic acid/fosetyl
• Ethephon
• Glyphosate
• Chlormequat/mepiquat
• Paraquat/diquat
• Guazatine
• Dithianone
• Ethylene oxide
• Bromide

Relevant contaminants and heavy metals

• Chlorate/perchlorate 
• Quartäre Ammoniumverbindungen (QAVs)
• Morpholine and other amino alcohols
• Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, copper, nickel

Special analytics for fruits and vegetables

• Nitrates
• Sulfur dioxide

Mycotoxins and plant toxins

• Aflatoxins
• Ochratoxin A
• Fumonisins
• Patulin
• Alternariatoxins
• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
• Glycolalkaloide 

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

• Screening, identification and quantification of GMO components.
• Detection of a wide range GMOs in fruit and vegetable products, including papaya, tomato, zucchini, sugar beet, and potato
• Detection of botanical impurities
• Analysis for cytoplasmic sterility (CMS)

Ingredients

• Additives
• Nutritional analysis, including nutrition facts for the United States and Canada, covering caloric value, protein, carbohydrates and sugars, fat and saturated fatty acids, fibre, salt, moisture, ash, and starch
• Vitamins and minerals
• Value-added components (secondary plant constituents)

Allergens

• Plant allergens, including gluten, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, celery, and sulphur dioxide
• Animal allergens, including eggs and milk proteins
• Pseudo-allergens, including sulphites and lactose

Microorganisms and hygiene

• Hygiene indicators, including total viable count, yeasts and moulds
• Spoilage pathogens
• Indicator germs
• Pathogenic germs and their toxins, such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC), noroviruses, hepatitis A virus, and bacillus cereus
• Microscopic examinations
• Sterility tests
• Industrial hygiene / hygiene checks 

Additional services

• Organic contaminants
• Packing analysis: cardboard, plastic and other materials
• Authenticity and origin
• Sensory analysis
• Testing for marketability, including compliance with trade classification regulations
• Consulting services
  • Selection of product-specific test scopes
  • Support in the development of product specifications 
  • Evaluation of test results, and risk-based recommendations
  • Crisis management and prevention
  • Declaration testing according to regulatory requirements
• Worldwide sampling, including sample collection and sample purchasing
• Express service for release analysis

Reliability and quality of our laboratories

Our analytical methods meet all the requirements of national and international norms and standards as well as those of food retailers and trade associations. Daily quality assurance checks ensure the quality of every result that leaves our laboratories. Beyond testing, our experts are on hand to support you to interpret your results. 

Legal bases and guidelines

• Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council (maximum residue levels)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 (authorising certain products and substances for use in organic production)
• Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (general principles)
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 (contaminants regulation)
• Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (food additives)
• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (food information)