Validation is a process of establishing documentary evidence demonstrating that a procedure, process or activity carried out in production operates effectively and maintains the desired level of compliance at all stages.

Validation of equipment used in food manufacturing is essential to ensure that the parameters critical to quality of the end product are monitored during the manufacturing process. Eurofins Food & Feed Testing offers equipment validation services for a range of food processing equipment like autoclaves, steam sterilisers, continuous sterilisers, dry roasters and many more.

Eurofins Food & Feed Testing's expertise on microbial challenge testing helps you to reliably ensure that the process design, process parameters and equipment are effective and comply with food safety and hazard regulations.

Validation is carried out using Enterococcus faecium ATCC 8459 (surrogate for salmonella), as recommended by the California Almond Board.

Why is equipment validation essential?

• Contributing significantly to product quality through equipment validation
• Identifying the worst-case scenario parameters for each product
• Validating the lethality of the worst-case scenario parameters using microbial challenge testing
• Identifying a set of parameters for each product that meets the minimum 4-log reduction criteria
• Optimising the thermal manufacturing process by identifying the correct parameters, such as processing time and minimum required temperature, while maintaining product integrity
• Formulating a process capable of consistently delivering quality products with scientific evidence
• Identifying the exact manufacturing processes that are critical to quality management and the parameters that require active monitoring
• Ensuring that the equipment performs according to specifications and is effective in delivering quality products
• Checking and establishing confidence that the process design, process parameters, and equipment are effective and comply with food safety and hazard regulations

Why work with us?

• Competence centres with state-of-the-art equipment such as high-resolution gas chromatography (HR-GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems, gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems
• Fast turn-around time 
• Local contact with a global network
• Participation in industry associations and regulatory bodies allowing early intervention on potential food scares and legal obligations
• Expert advice testing schemes, on-site check for hygiene and allergens, labelling advice and traceability
• Results you can rely on
• International presence­