5 replies to this topic

[Setanta]

I am wondering where folks in the US send items found by the public in their products for analysis?

We have been using a lab, but they are so back logged, it can take 3.5 months to get results back. This doesn't really satisfy us or our customers. I have done some Google searches and have contacted a couple of labs, but they do not seem interested in doing detailed analysis of these items.

We ask that the lab ID the material, run tests to determine whether or not the item shows processing damage or evidence of being baked (something that all of our goods would need to have done prior to consumption), run tests for human saliva or blood and attempt to determine whether or not they believe the item did originate with our food item.

Now granted, this does not happen often, especially with our metal detectors, but it is nice to get confirmation of where something may have come from.

As an aside, we did have a complaint of a knife found in our product that just "happened" to match the customer's pattern at home.

Thank you for any suggestions you can throw my way!
S.

[Chris @ Safefood 360°]

Have you contacted a University? I have worked with Penn State University in the past - testing to confirm whether a "foreign item" found in the canned food was thermally processed, insect identification, etc.

I have also used GMA (Grocery Manufacturer's Association) in the past - http://www.gmaonline...=18BCE20000006C.

[Setanta]

Ooooh, thanks, I never thought about Universities!
Thank you!

[Charles.C]

Dear Setanta,

Unfortunately, the kind of sample you refer is often the worst type of nightmare for a commercial lab service. The last thing they wish to do is spend significant time on thinking about what an item actually is (or might have been) for which deep cogitations the financial recompense is probably minimal.

An almost equivalent scenario is the customer who strolls up to the Front-Desk with a bottle of liquid X.
First question on the Customer form - Analytical requirement > "Please Test for Poison".
I always wanted to add one more query as No.2 - "Reason for Request" but it was denied by Customer Service Department as "irrelevant".

However under some circumstances your request for "Test for Processing Damage" might be far more favorably received, eg

Qu.1 - Analytical Requirement > Please verify if wood sample is from shipwreck
(Margin note from Front-Desk - test for NaCl)

Good Luck !

Rgds / Charles.C

[KTD]

Dear Setanta -
You did not indicate which lab firm you are using. If universities do not pan out, I did a quick web search of 'food testing laboratories' and came up with several hits. I have good things about ABC Research, EMSL, and Eurofins...

Edited by KTD, 21 January 2013 - 10:17 PM.

[Setanta]

KTD,

I have done some search engine searches to find labs, and the 3 I contacted didn't have an interest in doing what we need accomplished. I don't have their names at hand, but 2 politely refused and one never repled.

Thank you, though!
S.