Food additives analysis

Food additives have the ability to preserve flavor, enhance taste and/or appearance, and slow the onset of spoilage. Natural food additives have been used for centuries. Vinegar has been used in pickling, salt has been used to preserve bacon, sugar and honey have been used to preserve fruit and pastries. Sulfur dioxide has been used in wine. Food additives play a role in our ability to ship, process and store food meeting the needs of our current marketplace practices.

There are many different types of food additives, both natural and artificial:

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that acts as a preservative by inhibiting the effects of oxygen on food, and may also provide a health benefit
Starch is a bulking agent that increases the bulk of a food without affecting its taste
Color additives and flavor additives each enhance the color and taste or smell of food respectively
Emulsifiers allow water and oils to remain mixed together in an emulsion, as in mayonnaise, ice cream, and homogenized milk
Preservatives prevent or inhibit the growth of fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms in food that would cause spoilage
Stabilizers, thickeners and gelling agents, like agar or pectin (used in jam) give foods a firmer texture
Sweeteners are added to foods for flavoring

Food additives testing methods

Malvern Panalytical’s range of easy-to-use particle size, zeta potential, and imaging technologies can be used to study these additives and their interaction with food products. Our application knowledge can be used to:

Characterize the particle size and charge of food additives
Help monitor whether these food additives will interact in a particular food to reduce spoilage, improve taste, etc
Determine optimal concentrations of food additives
Optimize food additive concentration for desired taste and smell performance
Improve emulsion stabilization of flavorings and other food additives
Determine particle size and particle shape characteristics for the flow of flour and other dry food and food additive ingredients

Instruments for food additives analysis

Precise food additives analysis is crucial for ensuring the safety, stability, and quality of food products. Malvern Panalytical offers advanced instruments designed to meet these needs.

Zetasizer Advance

Zetasizer Advance Range

Zetasizer Advance Range

Light Scattering for every application

The Zetasizer Advance series measures particle size, molecular weight, and zeta potential with high precision.

By providing insights into particle size distribution and molecular properties, the Zetasizer Advance ensures the stability and quality of food additives. This is essential for optimizing formulations, enhancing product performance, and maintaining consistency in production.

OMNISEC

OMNISEC

The world’s most advanced multi-detector GPC/SEC system

OMNISEC is a comprehensive multi-detection size-exclusion chromatography system. It integrates multiple detectors, including refractive index, UV/Vis, light scattering, and viscometry, to provide a detailed analysis of molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, and molecular structure.

This system is ideal for detailed analysis of complex food additives, offering insights into the molecular composition and structural properties. OMNISEC aids in characterizing polymers, proteins, and other macromolecules, ensuring thorough quality control and regulatory compliance.

Regulatory compliance

Regulatory compliance is essential in food safety to ensure consumer protection and product quality. Malvern Panalytical plays a crucial role in supporting compliance by providing precise analytical solutions.

Compliance with international standards, such as those set by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), is mandatory for food manufacturers. Meeting these standards ensures that food additives are safe, effective, and of high quality, protecting consumer health and maintaining industry credibility.

Malvern Panalytical’s instruments deliver precise measurements, which are critical for verifying that food additives meet regulatory specifications.

Through advanced analytical technology, our solutions help manufacturers maintain compliance by providing reliable data for safety and quality assessments.