Seafood products may be exposed to contamination risks arising from aquaculture environments or residues of unauthorized substances, potentially affecting food safety and consumer health. Therefore, testing plays a critical role in assessing product quality, safety, and compliance before products are placed on the market.

In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, seafood testing helps control quality risks, minimize non-conforming products, reduce customer complaints, support export and distribution activities, protect business reputation, and ensure compliance with the technical standards of target markets.

Seafood quality testing parameters

At seafood testing laboratories, such as Eurofins Food and Feed Testing in Vietnam, samples are analyzed based on the following parameters:

• Antibiotic residues (e.g. chloramphenicol, nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, SEM), fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines)
• Dyes (e.g. malachite green, leucomalachite green, and crystal violet)
• Trifluralin and ethoxyquin
• Metals and heavy metals
• Pesticide and herbicide residues
• PCBs
• PAHs
• Melamine
• Histamine
• Sulfite
• Marine biotoxins (ASP, PSP, and DSP)
• Food additives
• Microbiology (e.g. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes)
• Norovirus GI/GII (PCR)
• Nutritional composition
• Beta-agonists
• Phthalates

Seafood testing

Eurofins Food and Feed Testing in Vietnam is a pioneer in delivering comprehensive Farm-to-Fork solutions, supporting businesses across the seafood value chain, from aquaculture and harvesting to processing and export, through testing, inspection, assessment, and certification services to ensure product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and market access.

Sensory and physicochemical analysis

Assess the overall quality of seafood and seafood products through sensory and physicochemical parameters such as appearance, color, odor, texture, moisture content, pH, water activity (aw), protein content, fat content, salt content, and other relevant quality indicators to support quality control and meet market requirements.

Microbiological testing

Detect and control harmful microorganisms such as Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria, total microbial counts, and other relevant microbiological parameters to support food safety, quality control, and compliance with applicable requirements.

Analysis of Antibiotic residues, Chemicals, and Environmental contaminants

Determine residues of antibiotics, prohibited chemicals, and restricted substances used in aquaculture, while also analyzing dioxins, PCBs, PFAS, and other environmental contaminants that may accumulate in seafood products to support risk assessment, ensure food safety, comply with applicable regulations, and meet export market requirements.

Heavy metals testing

Determine heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and related elements that may accumulate in seafood products to assess product safety, protect consumer health, and meet market requirements.

Additives and preservatives testing

Determine and verify the presence of preservatives, antioxidants, stabilizers, colorants, polyphosphates, and other food additives used in seafood and seafood products to support compliance with applicable regulations, quality control, and market requirements.

Traceability and Product Authentication

Utilize DNA technology and advanced analytical methods to identify seafood species, verify product origin, and detect ingredient substitution or product mislabeling, thereby enhancing supply chain transparency and supporting product authenticity and quality verification.

Processing and packaging contaminant analysis

Testing for PAHs (where applicable), MOSH/MOAH, packaging migrants, and other contaminants that may arise during manufacturing, processing, storage, or packaging.

Allergen testing

Determine the presence of allergens such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, gluten, soy, milk, and other allergenic substances to support cross-contact risk management, compliance with labeling requirements, and market access requirements.

Nutritional analysis

Assess nutritional and quality parameters such as protein, lipids, moisture content, and other related indicators to support quality control, product labeling, and compliance with market requirements.

Food Safety Solutions

• Support for shelf-life and stability studies, product declaration and regulatory compliance, and export market requirements
• Nutrition labeling review,
• Customized technical and regulatory workshops, and implementation of GMP, HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, and customer-specific food safety requirements.

Environmental compliance testing and consulting services supporting food manufacturing operations

• Environmental monitoring programs,
• Industrial hygiene sampling, 
• Water quality assessment,
• Production environment monitoring, sanitation verification,
• Environmental compliance testing and consulting services supporting confectionery manufacturing operations.

*Some analyses are performed through the Eurofins global laboratory network. Please contact us for consultation or additional information.