Shelf-life and stability testing for food and supplements

Accurate stability studies to support shelf‑life validation, label compliance and product quality. Eurofins Food & Feed Testing delivers tailored real‑time and accelerated testing programmes to monitor nutrient stability over time, helping you verify claims, optimise formulations and ensure product performance throughout shelf life.

Stability studies

Ensure label accuracy and shelf‑life claims with stability studies designed for food and supplement matrices. Eurofins Food Testing UK, working with our European vitamin competence centre in Denmark, provide real‑time and accelerated programmes for vitamins and amino acids; from study design and controlled storage to accredited analysis and clear reporting.

Why stability testing

  • Demonstrate that declared vitamin and amino acid levels are maintained through shelf-life
  • Understand the impact of temperature, humidity, light and time on product potency
  • Optimise formulation, packaging and overage strategy to meet end‑of‑life label targets

Study design & conditions*

Study conditions and acceptance criteria are agreed case‑by‑case to reflect your product category and market

  • Climate‑controlled storage using chambers aligned to ICH‑guideline style conditions
  • Typical long‑term (example): 25 °C / 65% RH; accelerated: 40 °C / 75% RH; other conditions available on request
  • Flexible schedules: common pulls at T0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months, with options to 18, 24 and 36+ months

*This information is provided for general guidance only and may not reflect the latest legal requirements. Eurofins accepts no liability for its accuracy. Our specialists provide tailored support through our horizon scanning and food safety consultancy services.

What we test

  • Vitamins; water‑ and fat‑soluble panels tailored to the product (e.g., beverages, cereals, supplements)
  • Amino acids; essential and non‑essential profiles appropriate to the matrix

Note: Analytical results represent total nutrient content; they cannot distinguish between naturally occurring and added sources.

Methods & reporting

  • Quantification by fit‑for‑purpose methods (e.g., HPLC/LC‑MS/MS/GC‑MS) selected for the analyte and matrix; ISO 17025 accredited where available
  • Results have the option of being issued in label‑ready formats for UK/EU nutrition use
  • Optional statistical summaries (e.g., trend charts) and interpretation aligned to your acceptance criteria

Sample management & retention

  • Storage of a wide range of products (soft drinks, cereals, supplements and more) for programmes of up to 3+ years
  • Post‑analysis retention: samples held frozen for up to 12 months to enable re‑testing where needed

Good practice tips

  • Provide full product information up front (formulation, packaging, target shelf-life and label claims)
  • Run duplicate (or triplicate) determinations at each time point for greater confidence
  • Reference prior test codes/batches to support continuity of evidence and trending

Comprehensive shelf-life services

Our Consultancy & Risk Management team designs and delivers end-to-end shelf-life programmes, bringing study design, accredited testing and practical guidance together so products stay safe, compliant and on-spec from launch to end-of-life.

Shelf-life validation services

Get in touch

For small batches, order our most routine testing from Eurofins Testing Direct.

Would you like to find out more about our testing solutions, access our competence centre services, or do you need tailored analytical or consultancy support?

Contact Eurofins Food Testing UK today to speak to our experts by submitting an enquiry form or calling +44 (0) 845 604 6740.

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