Services

We provide microbiological, chemical and physical testing to assure reliable data and credible results for a multitude of products throughout the United States. We deliver fast, accurate results, utilizing the latest technology in testing and reporting – regardless of product specialty and geographic location.

Product testing services include:

Microbiological

• Hygiene testing
• Pathogen testing

Chemical

• Analytical testing
• Wet chemistry
• Allergens
• Minerals, heavy metals and elemental impurities

Physical

• Appearance
• Cook weights
• Density
• Mass determinations
• Odor
• Purge
• Solubility index
• Texture
• Sieves
• Uniformity
• Unit counts
• Viscosity
• Volume determinations

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From microbial challenge studies and process validation studies to AOAC Research Institute Method Validation, we offer outstanding expertise to design and execute the most challenging research projects. We provide custom study design to meet regulatory guidelines, specific business goals or challenging food safety concerns, creating individualized studies, data summaries and reports that exactly meet your needs.

Research and development services include:

• AOAC Research Institute Method Validations
• Test method optimization
• Shelf-life studies
• Microbial and chemical shelf-life studies
• Process validation studies
• Pathogen test kit development and validation studies
• Microbial identification
• Microbial challenge studies
• Sanitation program efficacy validation and verification

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Enhance your access to global markets with GFSI certification, gain independent audits of your processes and systems, and access innovative learning and development solutions.

Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)

We can audit you, or your suppliers, against a number of schemes that are either approved or recognized by the GFSI:

• Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP)
• BRCGS Global Standards - Food Safety, Agents & Brokers, Packaging Materials and Storage & Distribution
• GLOBALG.A.P. (Good Agriculture Practice)
• Safe Quality Food (SQF)
• FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification)

Additional food industry audits and certifications

Wherever you are in the food value chain, we can independently audit your processes and/or systems against the requirements of these world-class standards.

Quality and food safety:

• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• ISO 9001
• ISO 22000
• FSMA Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) certification
• FSMA Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) certification

Environmental and occupational health and safety:

• ISO 14001
• ISO 45001 (OHSAS 18001)

Social responsibility:

• SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)
• SA 8000

Responsible sourcing and sustainability:

• Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) Program
• Roundtable Sustainability Palm Oil (RSPO)
• UTZ
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
• Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
• SGS Animal Welfare
• International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC)

Identity preserved and others:

• Non-GMO and No GE Standards
• Gluten-free certifications - GFCO, BRCGS Gluten Free Certification Program or AOECS

Security:

• ISO 27001 cyber security
• TAPA
• Food defense

Custom audits:

• Supplier audits, second-party audits and customized audits
• Supply chain risk management

Training

As the global leader in professional training, we provide innovative learning and development solutions, covering multiple areas and industries, tailored to meet your needs. Our courses are delivered in both face-to-face and eLearning environments, ensuring training objectives are achieved no matter where you are. Our portfolio covers everything from BRCGS, FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification, FSMA, through to GMP and HACCP training, food safety, risk management, traceability, hygiene, regulation and more.

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We offer nutritional analysis and label reviews to help confirm nutritional content of food products, support product claims and ensure regulatory compliance.

Nutritional analysis packages by industry segment

Our food nutrition analysis determines the nutritional content of food products, supporting product claims and ensuring compliance with food industry regulations. We perform nutritional and composition analysis for fats, carbohydrates, food additives, liposoluble and hydro-soluble vitamins, vitamin-like substances, minerals and trace elements.

Label review

We support the whole label development process. From a simple label check to verify compliance with food regulations, to full language translation and verification of label layout and design. To reduce your risk of non-compliance, we can review food labels against all relevant criteria, including:

• Name of the food
• List of ingredients and compliance of the product composition (e.g. if used additives are permitted)
• Allergen information
• Nutrition labeling
• Label layout, pictures, language and type size compliance
• Health and nutrition claims
• Labeling elements that are required on national basis
• Prop 65 compliance

We can combine laboratory testing to create the Nutrition Facts Table and verify nutrient claims. In USA/Canada, industry recognized software, using the USDA Nutritional Database, can be used to create the Nutrition Facts Table based on recipe. We can also create a camera-ready Nutrition Facts Table in multiple formats.

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SGS helps defend against food fraud by verifying the authenticity of the ingredients you use, with All Species ID, food fingerprinting and GMO testing.

All Species ID

Our DNA-based testing methods are a powerful tool for food analysis, food authenticity testing, and the identification of ingredients, pathogens, allergens and potential adulteration – even in highly processed food products. All Species ID takes full advantage of developments in next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA samples to offer an untargeted test that answers the questions traditional DNA testing (PCR) cannot.

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Food fingerprinting

Food fingerprinting is the process of identifying the unique isotopic fingerprint of an ingredient using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). This fingerprint is unique to each ingredient and can be used to determine where it was produced and what processing it has undergone. Food fingerprinting can be used to:

• Verify the geographical origin of an ingredient
• Test the authenticity of ingredients labeled as natural
• Identify undeclared additives, such as sugar
• Detect the use of synthetic fertilizers in organic products

Non-GMO Project approved

We provide GMO testing services across all matrices of seed, grain, livestock feed, and food samples for all relevant Non-GMO Project species and more. We utilize a standardized method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based DNA detection technology to determine the amount of GMO present in samples. Our investment in skilled scientists and best-in-class technology enables us to identify GMO presence to levels as low as 0.01% in samples. Our laboratory operates under strict guidelines, is ISO 17025 accredited, ISO 9001 certified and GLP compliant.

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We offer support on all aspects of food safety, new technologies and new governmental opinions or regulations. We guide you through the complex food safety laws, latest industry updates and best practice.

Our scientists maintain significant relationships with government agencies and other organizations that are impacting food safety guidelines, procedures and new regulations. As a result, we provide valuable insights into new procedures and controls to assure that your company has robust systems in place to protect your consumers, products and reputation.

Our consultation services include:

• Regulatory guidance
• Supplier verification programs
• Food safety and quality program design and review
• Method/matrix review
• Verification of in-house laboratory design and procedures
• Training in best practice for manufacturing, hygiene, sampling and more
• Environmental monitoring programs

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Facilities supplying food to the US market covered by the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) must demonstrate compliance to applicable FSMA rules. The regulation covers food facilities, produce farms, pet food and feed facilities within and outside the US, as well as US importers and food transportation companies. We help you ensure compliance with FSMA across the food supply chain with a comprehensive range of certification, audit, training, testing and technical services.

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New technologies, such as SGS Digicomply and Transparency-One, deliver knowledge, insight, transparency and efficiency to help you manage quality, safety and profitability.

SGS Digicomply

Simplify compliance with SGS Digicomply – the regulatory intelligence network that transforms compliance data into user-friendly actionable knowledge. Our powerful knowledge management platform combines high technology with human expertise to sort and classify multiple data sources into one coherent data feed.

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Transparency-One

Discover, analyze and monitor all suppliers, ingredients and facilities in the supply chain. Transparency-One uses real-time data to reduce risk, identify ingredient origins and ensure compliance. Cutting-edge cloud-based technology allows you to check supplier certification, reduce risk, respond quickly and effectively to potential crises, provide customers with up-to-date information, and gain consumer loyalty and trust.

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SGS E-Vision

Capture all technical and legal information related to a product in SGS eVision – an online tool that allows you to access real-time data in an intuitive, secure manner. Fully searchable using keywords and compliant to ISO 27001:2013, SGS eVision is a modular solution that enables you to ensure that your products meet relevant industry regulations and your own quality standards as part of your brand protection management.

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