Fit For Human Consumption

 

Kappa Labs is the laboratory of choice for major export and international firms, providing export health certificates to countries worldwide.

Decomposition of food is the process where food becomes spoiled and unsafe for people to consume.  Produce, seafood, and meat begin to decay naturally from the time it is harvested, caught or processed due to attacks from enzymes, oxidation and microorganisms.  These include bacteria, mold and yeast. The rate of spoilage is greatly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and moisture level, as well as how the product is packaged and stored.  

Roughly, one-third of the worlds’ food produced for human consumption is lost every year due to spoilage.  Consuming contaminated food can result in serious sonsequences.  It’s important for food manufacturers to take the necessary preventative measures.

Microbiological Analyses

The total plate count is a general indicator of the total amount of aerobic bacteria present.  As the total aerobic bacterial count increases beyond several hundred thousands counts, decomposition develops rapidly as bacterial growth enters the logarithmic phase.  This decomposition is apparent by the off-odor produced.

Coliforms and gram negative bacterial organisms are indicators of poor sanitation or food product handling.  Coliforms are found in nature and man as well as animals.  Fecal coliforms are found in mammals.

E. coli is considered a human fecal coliform marker and is HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) regarded organism.  The presence in a ready to eat food product is a serious health problem.   E. coli should not be detected in normal, fresh, wholesome, non-meat products.  Hands – feces – hand product contact is the primary vector suspected when E. coli is present in a finished ready to eat or seafood product.There is no regulatory tolerence for salmonella/25 grams and listeria/ 25 grams.  The State of Florida considers Listeria monocytogenes to be a human pathogen, but the USDA considers the presence of any Listeria spp. to be unacceptable.  Production plant remediation of Listeria may be a difficult process and should be fully understood in order to eradicate and control this bacteria.

Mold and yeast are spoilage organisms.  The presence of visable mold growth in the vegetative state is considered a form of decomposition.

A series of microbiological tests are used to assess the overall quality and projected shelf-life of a food product.

Decomposition Analyses

Decomposition of food is an important field study in food science.  Food begins to decay naturally.  The rate of spoilage is greatly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and moisture level.  In addition to the natural decaying process, food may be contaminated by bacteria, mold or yeast, which will increase the rate of decay.  Decomposition analysis is conducted along with the microbiological and chemical testing process.

Chemical Analyses

Our Chemical Analyses services ensure food safety and compliance through advanced testing for product fingerprinting, Scromboid toxins in seafood, and decomposition markers like indole, as well as pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and mold/yeast. Using state-of-the-art techniques, we deliver precise results to identify contaminants and verify product integrity, helping you meet FDA standards and protect consumers with reliable, high-quality outcomes.

FDA Registered Laboratory

As an FDA-registered and USDA-certified laboratory, Kappa Labs upholds the highest standards of quality and precision in food testing. Our USDA certification demonstrates our commitment to a robust quality system, ensuring samples are analyzed in a technically advanced environment that delivers precise and accurate results. With over 30 years of experience, we utilize state-of-the-art technology to meet stringent FDA and USDA requirements, providing reliable data for regulatory compliance and consumer safety.

ISO 17025 Accrediated Lab

Kappa Laboratory is International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 certified laboratory. ISO accredited food testing laboratories have demonstrated that they have implemented a quality system that assures that samples are analyzed in a technically competent environment able to produce precise and accurate test data.

Export Health Certificate

Kappa Labs is the laboratory of choice for major export and international firms.  We notarize the Export Health Certificate to countries worldwide.  All necessary testing as well as the full documentation and summary of reports are completed in house.  We have over 35 years of claim analyses experience.

To Get Started

Send an e-mail to the Kappa Labartories (info@kappalabs.com) or use the contact form below.  Be sure to include with the following details.

  1. Description of the sample to be analyzed.
  2. Description of matrix to be analyzed.
  3. Determination of methods to be employed.
  4. Number of samples and number of analytes to be determined.