Laboratory tests as the basis for food safety
Food imports and exports are common occurrences in many countries. For instance, summer fruits like melons, strawberries, and raspberries are still available in our supermarkets during the winter.
Mussels are another example, which we can enjoy even far from the sea. But do we always see the risks that come with this constant availability of food? Before they arrive at our tables or in stores, many foods travel thousands of kilometers. Food safety is one of the main problems for producers, consumers, and suppliers, aside from logistical difficulties. For instance, food can spread viruses to people in addition to bacterial diseases, which can have major health consequences. At every stage of the supply chain, dangers exist.
Therefore, compliance with strict food handling rules is essential - and across national borders.
ISO 22000:2018
ISO 22000:2018 is a global standard for food safety management systems. This standard specifies what an organization must do to be able to ensure food safety. The standard is considered a globally recognized standard and aims to ensure the same food handling rules in all countries.
Regular microbiological controls
For food manufacturers or processors, regular microbiological tests are essential to be able to guarantee the safety of the food. For example, drinking water in Bavaria, Germany, is regularly tested by laboratories recognized and listed by the State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection (StMUV). Another example is targeted history tests to determine or check compliance with the best-before date (MHD) or the consumption date.
These are just two examples of tests regularly performed in the food industry. Therefore, finding acceptable laboratories for extremely specialized tests is a part of daily life for food manufacturers. The searches are often not easy, as essential requirements must be met in the
laboratory selection process.
Finding a suitable testing laboratory made easier
To make the search for suitable food laboratories easier, many companies turn to testxchange. With thousands of laboratories, testxchange is the largest digitally available laboratory database. Try it for yourself!