Food & Water Services
The food industry needs critical tests such as pesticide residues, toxic metals, residual contaminants etc., in tea, coffee, spices, fresh fruits and fruit concentrates, pulses, cereals, fresh vegetables, processed food, confectioneries and various other food and agricultural products.
STARTECH labs has the following expertise in the field of food analysis
- Pesticide residue analysis
- Antibiotic residue analysis
- Toxic metal estimation
- Microbiological evaluation
Pesticide Residue Analysis
Pesticide Residue analysis of food is conducted in segregated laboratory environment to avoid cross contamination. Test methods are based on national and international standards such as The Pesticide Manual, EPA, AOAC, IS etc., The methods adopted at Startech are fully validated and important data on spiked recovery tests is furnished in the reports to reflect accuracy of results. All raw data including chromatograms are archived securely for customer reference in case of requirement. The categories of products routinely tested for Pesticide Residues include Food, Agri products, Soil etc. Pesticide residues estimated in water, food, drugs, agri products, soil etc., are- Organo chlorine
- Organo phosphorous
- Fungicide
- Fumigant
Antibiotic Residues
Antibiotic residues in food and feed of animal origin when consumed may cause health problems. STARTECH adopts test methods based on AOAC for the estimation of antibiotic residues.Products which can be tested
- Egg powder
- Milk and other dairy products
- Meat and Poultry products
- Fish and allied products
- Chloramphenicol
- Ciprofloxacin
- Chlortetracycline HCL
- Oxytetra-cycline
- Enroflaxacin, etc..
Toxic Metal Estimation
Startech is equipped with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer for estimation of metals in food, dairy products Elements such as As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, Cr, Zn, Sn, etc.. present in food are treated as Toxic metals. These elements induce toxic effects on human metabolism. Such food containing excessive amounts of toxic elements can be segregated and discarded / avoided from consuming.Products which can be tested
- All agri products: Raw and finished
- Canned food
- Packaged food
- Beverages
Microbiological Evaluation
Microbial contamination in food material leads to faster deterioration and pose danger to the health of consumers. Certain microorganisms contained in food cause gastro-intestinal disorders.Products which can be tested:
- Processed fruit and vegetable products
- Dairy products
- Cereals
- Feed etc.,
- Micro-organisms/ Pathogens tested
- Total aerobic microbial count
- Yeast and molds
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Coliforms
- Bacillus substilis
- Staphylococcus aurens
- E.Coli
- Pseudomonas, etc
Water
Water is the main source for carrying the disease prone bacteria and when consumed by human cause diseases. It is therefore desirable that the water for drinking and specially the packaged water is tested for the contamination and take necessary action by human consumption. Water is also used for various other purposes for which the quality of water needs to meet specifications that are outlined for the specific purpose. Necessary action needs to be taken to correct the scenario which other wise can cause damage.At Startech we analyse all types of water as mentioned below:
- Packaged drinking water - IS : 14543 - 1998
- Natural mineral water - IS : 13428 - 1998
- Surface/ground water - IS : 10500 - 1993
- Water for construction - IS : 456 - 2000
- Feed water/boiler water - IS : 10496 - 1983
- Water for swimming pools - IS : 3328 - 1993
- Reagent water - IS : 1070 - 1992
- Drinking water as per WHO/EPA specifications
- Process Water Analysis
- Electronics Grade water as per ASTM D 5127 - 1990
- Water for concreting as per IS 456-2000
- Water for Food processing Industry as per IS 4251- 1967
- Water for storage batteries as per IS 1069 - 1993
- Water for fermentation industry as per IS - 4700 - 1968
- Water for Ice manufacture as per IS 3957 - 1966
- Cooling tower water for physico-chemical and Legionella