Spices

Laboratory testing for safety, quality, and authenticity

Spices and aromatic herbs represent high-value-added but also high-risk ingredients. Their concentrated nature, provenance from complex international supply chains, and high vulnerability to contamination and adulteration make a structured analytical control system indispensable.

At Lifeanalytics, we support manufacturers, importers, processors, and distributors with an integrated system of laboratory testing, analytical services, and consulting. Our goal is to ensure food safety, demonstrate regulatory compliance, prevent fraud and adulteration, protect brand value, and strengthen competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets.

Regulations and compliance in the spice sector

The sector is governed by increasingly stringent European requirements regarding safety, labeling, and traceability, including:

• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 – Food information to consumers
• Regulation (EU) 2018/848 – On organic production and labeling of organic products
• Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 – On the hygiene of foodstuffs
• Regulation (EU) 2023/915 – On maximum levels for certain contaminants in food.

At Lifeanalytics, we assist companies with regulatory interpretation, labeling verification, the preparation of technical documentation, and alignment with export market requirements.

Laboratory testing for spices and herbs

Our ISO/IEC 17025:2018 accredited laboratories provide reliable and defensible data to safeguard brands during audits, official inspections, and retailer (GDO) compliance checks, supporting them in the following areas:

• Microbiological safety: screening for pathogens (Salmonella, Escherichia coli), molds, and yeasts with rapid identification via MALDI-TOF technology, providing objective evidence to support HACCP plans in matrices with a high risk of biological contamination.
• Chemical contaminants and undesirable substances: analysis of pesticide residues, mycotoxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxin A), heavy metals, dioxins, mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH-MOAH), PAHs, PFAS, and antibiotic residues to ensure regulatory compliance and prevent customs rejections or product holds.
• Nutritional analysis, GMOs, and allergens: determination of the proximate profile, GMO screening, quantification of vitamins, minerals, and regulated allergens, alongside the integration of testing for emerging contaminants like microplastics to safeguard accurate labeling and claims.
• Authenticity and food fraud mitigation: utilization of advanced spectrometry techniques to verify the botanical and geographical origin as well as the authenticity of high-value spices such as saffron, vanilla, turmeric, and pepper, detecting adulteration, sophistication, or botanical substitution.
• Shelf life and quality stability: real-time and accelerated stability studies to monitor microbiological and physicochemical variations over time, assessing the impact of light, oxygen, and moisture to prevent the degradation of the aromatic profile and scientifically define the "best before" date.
• Sensory analysis and consumer testing: panel tests with trained judges and in-home use tests (IHUT) with consumers to evaluate overall liking, aromatic intensity, and organoleptic properties, offering scientific support for product development and the validation of sensory claims.

Your trusted experts for the spice sector

Choosing Lifeanalytics means relying on a leading analytical partner for the spice and herb sector, capable of turning laboratory data into operational safety and business protection. Every day, we help companies reduce the risk of non-compliance and recalls, and face audits and inspections with clear evidence to protect their brand value and market access.

At Lifeanalytics, we provide a comprehensive ecosystem of testing, consulting, and training services, backed by constant regulatory updates, to help companies make confident decisions and safeguard their business.

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