Shelf Life Testing

What is shelf-life?

Shelf life is the period during which a product remains safe, effective, and suitable for consumption or use while in storage or retail. It depends on factors such as storage conditions, packaging, and the product's composition.

What is shelf-life testing?

Shelf-life testing determines the optimal life expectancy of your product. It is crucial for ensuring quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

We gather details about your product and its intended application to tailor our testing to your needs and guarantee your customer’s satisfaction. This approach helps you take the right steps to achieve your product's performance and quality goals.

Examples of products we test:

For shelf life, we test a variety of products. 

Some common products we test are

  •  salsas
  • dips
  • sauces
  • juices
  • protein bars
  • nuts

Have a product? Contact us, and our team will collaborate with you to develop a tailored plan to meet your goals.

What are some common shelf-life tests we perform?

Aerobic plate counts (APC) - measure the microbial load in a sample to assess its safety, quality, and compliance with industry standards.

Price - 25$ for each sample

Coliform testing detects bacteria indicating potential contamination and assesses hygiene and safety in food samples.

Price - $35 for each sample

Yeast and mould testing evaluates spoilage risk, ensuring product freshness and extended shelf life.

Price - 25$ for each sample

pH testing monitors acidity to ensure product stability and extend shelf life.

Price - $20

Water activity testing determines moisture availability to predict shelf life and prevent spoilage.

Price - $40

Example Pricing: 

For example, if a company needs to test one salsa sample for shelf life, we typically test for aerobic plate counts (APC) ($25), coliforms ($35), yeasts and molds ($25), pH ($20) and water activity ($40) on Days 0, 7 and 14.

Then the cost will be 3 (time points) X $(25 + 35 + 25 + 20 + 40) = $435+ ($250 for data analysis and report time fees) = $685, then an additional 18% administrative fee charged by the university.