3 replies to this topic

[crabcake5]

We have been conducting water activity on our RTE crabcakes and made it one of our CCP's. We were instructed (FDA audit) to test at or close to what our product should be stored at which is 38 F. So we test at 1 C. Is this accurate? Anyone help or give some advice?

[Hank Major]

If you are running the tests yourself, why not do an experiment where you run it at various temperatures on the same material, and see if it varies at all?  Then you can draw up a correction factor to use going forward.

[Ryan M.]

It is closer to 3 degrees C.  But, similar to what Hank is saying test at various temperatures.  Check it at your refrigerated temperature limits and see how much it varies.  I'm assuming your limits are something like 33 to 41 degrees F, or 0.5 to 5 degrees C?  Just make sure you use right conversions from F to C....and vice versa.

[Leila Burin]

Hello, 

a_w varies with temperature, many papers demonstrate it - as my PhD;) ....

so, you shall measure at the same temperature of use

best regards,

Leila