Food Analysis Quality Control

Fit-for-purpose is a phrase familiar to all users of analytical data, who need to be assured that data provided by laboratories is both appropriate and of the required quality. Quality in the Food Analysis Laboratory surveys the procedures that a food analysis laboratory must consider to meet such requirements. The need to introduce quality assurance, the different quality models that are available and the legislative requirements are considered. Specific aspects of laboratory practice and particular areas of accreditation which may cause problems for analytical laboratories are also discussed. Covering for the first time those areas of direct importance to food analysis laboratories, this unique book will serve as an aid to those laboratories when introducing new measures and justifying those chosen.

Producing products of reliable quality is vitally important to the food and beverage industry. In particular, companies often fail to ensure that the sensory quality of their products remains consistent, leading to the sale of goods which fail to meet the desired specifications or are rejected by the consumer. This book is a practical guide for all those tasked with using sensory analysis for quality control (QC) of food and beverages. Chapters in part one cover the key aspects to consider when designing a sensory QC program. The second part of the book focuses on methods for sensory QC and statistical data analysis. Establishing product sensory specifications and combining instrumental and sensory methods are also covered. The final part of the book reviews the use of sensory QC programs in the food and beverage industry. Chapters on sensory QC for taint prevention and the application of sensory techniques for shelf-life assessment are followed by contributions reviewing sensory QC programs for different products, including ready meals, wine and fish. A chapter on sensory QC of products such as textiles, cosmetics and cars completes the volume. Sensory analysis for food and beverage quality control is an essential reference for anyone setting up or operating a sensory QC program, or researching sensory QC. Highlights key aspects to consider when designing a quality control program including sensory targets and proficiency testing Examines methods for sensory quality control and statistical data analysis Reviews the use of sensory quality control programs in the food and beverage industry featuring ready meals, wine and fish

Foods are analyzed by scientists working in all of the major sectors of the food industry including food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, analytical service laboratories, government laboratories, and University research laboratories. The food industry is subject to particularly strict regulations on the quality and safety of its products. This is important because if food is contaminated, the consequences can be serious. In order to guarantee the industry's strict quality and safety standards, reliable instruments and methods are needed in the laboratory. These instruments and methods must meet highest standards. The present book highlights some important protocols used for Food Analysis and Quality Control. This information is critical to our rational understanding of the factors that determine the properties of foods, as well as to our ability to economically produce foods that are consistently safe, nutritious and desirable and for consumers to make informed choices about their diet. The objective of this course is to review the basic principles of the analytical procedures commonly used to analyze foods and to discuss their application to specific food components.

Quality Control in the Food Industry, Volume 1 focuses on the general aspects of quality control in the food industry, emphasizing the controllable factors that affect the quality of the finished product, including the selection of raw materials, processing methods, packaging, storage, and distribution. The book describes the principles of quality control and some important concepts such as sensory assessment and statistical approaches, along with food standards and health problems in quality control. This volume is organized into six chapters and begins with an overview of the application, organization, related problems, techniques, and prospects of quality control. The next chapters focus on the chemical and microbiological aspects of health problems in quality control; fundamental concepts in statistics as applied to quality control from sampling to the estimation of ingredients; and taste testing as an approach to quality control of processed foods. The book concludes by considering the importance, limitations, and problems associated with food standards, with special reference to their international aspects. This book will be of interest to food scientists and technologists, managers in the food industry, and students.

Qualitative control and analysis of food products is a requirement for food industries, both in terms of quality assurance and food safety management systems. Analysis of foods is continuously requiring the development of more robust, efficient, sensitive, and cost-effective analytical methodologies to guarantee the safety, quality, authenticity, and traceability of foods in compliance with legislation and consumers' demands. Different analyses include microbiological and chemical analyses, from simple to complex, from old to modern technologies. Hence, fundamental and/or state-of-the-art methods of the development, optimization, and practical implementation in routine laboratories, and validation of these methods for the monitoring of food safety and quality, are employed. Methodologies for food microbial contaminants, food chemistry and toxicology, food quality, food authenticity, and food traceability have been presented and discussed in this Special Issue.

Sensory analysis is not new to the food industry, but its application as a basic tool in food product development and quality control has not been given the recognition and acceptance it deserves. This, we believe, is largely due to the lack of understanding about what sensory analysis can offer in product research, development and marketing, and a fear that the discipline is 'too scientific' to be practical. To some extent, sensory scientists have perpetuated this fear with a failure to recognize the constraints of industry in implementing sensory testing procedures. These guidelines are an attempt to redress the balance. Of course, product 'tasting' is carried out in every food company: it may be the morning tasting session by the managing director, competitor comparisons by the marketeers, tasting by a product 'expert' giving a quality opinion, comparison of new recipes from the product development kitchen, or on-line checking during pro duction. Most relevant, though, is that the people respon sible for the tasting session should know why the work is being done, and fully realize that if it is not done well, then the results and conclusions drawn, and their implications, are likely to be misleading. If, through the production of these guidelines, we have influenced some people suffi ciently for them to re-evaluate what they are doing, and why, we believe our efforts have been worthwhile.

If an automobile tire leaks or an electric light switch fails, if we are short changed at a department store or erroneously billed for phone calls not made, if a plane departure is delayed due to a mechanical failure - these are rather ordinary annoyances which we have come to accept as normal occur rences. Contrast this with failure of a food product. If foreign matter is found in a food, if a product is discolored or crushed, if illness or discomfort occurs when a food product is eaten-the consumer reacts with anger, fear, and sometimes mass hysteria. The offending product is often returned to the seller, or a disgruntled letter is written to the manufacturer. In an extreme case, an expensive law suit may be filed against the company. The reaction is almost as severe if the failure is a difficult-to-open package or a leaking container. There is no tolerance for failure of food products. Dozens of books on quality written for hardware or service industries discuss failure rates, product reliability, serviceability, maintainability, warran ty, and repair. Manufacturers in the food industry cannot use these measure ments: food reliability must be 100%, failure rate 0%. Serviceability, main tainability, warranty, and repair are meaningless terms to food processors.