How is shelf life testing done?

With accelerated shelf-life testing, the food is subjected to a controlled environment in which one or more storage conditions, such as temperature, humidity, atmosphere, or light, are maintained at a higher than normal level.

How do you test the shelf life of food?

Lab testing is the only method to determine an accurate shelf life for a food product. Lab testing can be expensive and time consuming; however, there is no way around it. If a food manufacturer, big or small, needs to determine an accurate best-by date for their product, then testing in a lab must be done.

How is accelerated shelf life testing done?

To run an accelerated shelf life study, the most common method used is the kinetic model approach. Its process involves: Selection of kinetic factors for acceleration of deteriorative process. Running study of deterioration process at such levels of accelerating factors that deterioration is fast enough.

How shelf life is determined by the manufacturer?

Analyse results – In the absence of standards (legal or voluntary), manufacturers have to set their own end point based on microbiological, chemical or sensory criteria. The shelf life date is usually assigned as the last day of an acceptable sensory score or analytical results.

What is shelf life in food?

The shelf life of food is the period during which the food retains an acceptable quality from a safety and organoleptic point of view, and depends on four main factors, namely formulation, processing, packaging and storage conditions.

Why shelf life testing is necessary?

The objective of most shelf life testing is to determine how rapidly microbiological, chemical and physical changes occur in the food during distribution and storage. Since different storage conditions accelerate some changes but not others, it helps to know what changes are likely to occur prior to testing.

What is food shelf life?

Shelf life is the recommended maximum time for which products or fresh (harvested) produce can be stored, during which the defined quality of a specified proportion of the goods remains acceptable under expected (or specified) conditions of distribution, storage and display.

How do you perform a stability test?

7 Steps for Stability Testing

1. Step 1: Batch Production.
2. Step 2: Product Container Filling.
3. Step 3: Initial Test (Time Point Zero).
4. Step 4: Product Storage.
5. Step 5: Product Evaluation.
6. Step 6: Determine Stability.
7. Step 7: Conclusion Report.

What six factors determine the shelf life of meat?

This chapter will examine the major factors that affect the shelf life of different categories of meat products including initial microbial load, time, temperature, acidity, water activity gaseous atmosphere, and packaging.

Why do manufacturers need to consider the shelf life of a product?

The shelf-life of a product is the time that it remains acceptable to eat. Within the shelf life the product will remain safe and retain the desired sensory, chemical, physical and microbiological characteristics. Understanding shelf life is essential in assuring the safety and quality of the product.

What is shelf life testing?

A food product is witnessed under controlled conditions in the lab to observe microbiological growth and chemical changes as it ages to determine how long the product is safe for consumption. Shelf Life Tests are available for any duration. …

What are the factors influencing shelf life?

Unlike intrinsic parameters, extrinsic parameters can be controlled or changed to influence a product’s shelf life. These factors include temperature, time, relative humidity, presence of gases, physical stress, and other environmental parameters.