Regarding water activity and moisture content, you must know the difference in food quality control testing.
Regarding water activity and moisture content, you must know the difference in food quality control testing. So, what is the difference? Moisture content is the total amount of water within your food or ingredients, while water activity measures the amount of water readily available for microbial growth. You could be wondering why you should even test for water activity. The reasons are necessary, such as for the quality and consistency of a product. Determination just before packaging can also predict the shelf life of the products. It is also an indicator of product safety, and high water activity numbers can also affect texture, taste, and appearance. Federal and state regulations require that these products be tested for water activity. Read on to learn more about food quality control testing!
Why Should You Test for Moisture Content?
Quality and consistency of the product matter so that moisture levels can affect the integrity of the food product. If there is too much moisture, the product could be soggy and subject to mold, and if there is too little moisture, the product can turn crumbly. Production can also affect machines like extruders and it can minimize drying delays, waste reduction, and packaging problems. The cost for moisture content testing is inexpensive, and one of the heaviest ingredients in most food products. If the final product is packaged by weight, knowing the amount of water will be necessary to have a quality product still while also meeting the labeling requirements.
Why Moisture Content = Ideal Solution
Testing during production can prevent a whole batch scrap, and calibrated to a reference method (KF Titration) is often a reference method in AOAC, ASTM, and ISO. Sartorius has tested over 18,00 different products, and they have programs available for products and moisture labs to develop a program if there is not one available. The Scale People can provide you with a complete moisture testing solution if interested, so visit us today to learn more!
Balances for Food Quality Testing
Back weighting and loss on drying is an application to help you determine the amount of volatile matter in tablets, capsules, and bulky materials. Samples can be weighed before and after treatments, and the weight difference is also measured. Density determination is an easy and convenient process that can help deliver highly-reliable results compared to other methods where volume is determined independently of your weight.
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Since 1956, The Scale People have earned a reputation as the best service provider for calibrating and repairing weighing equipment in the mid-Atlantic area. Our sales team can help you to find the best weighing equipment for your application. We currently have offices in Columbia, MD, and Newport News, VA, but we offer our services nationwide. Over the years, we have built many satisfied clients from various industries, including pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and government manufacturing. We are a fully ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited service company offering calibration for balances, scales, dynamometers, force measurements, test weights, pipettes, and more. All our services have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We’re only a phone call away at +1 (800) 451-9593. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about our work.