The microbiological quality of food plays a key role in protecting consumer safety and ensuring that products comply with applicable standards and regulations. The presence of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi can lead to serious health problems, financial losses, and damage to producers’ reputations.
At ANCHEM Testing Laboratory, we specialize in detailed microbiological testing of food to detect potential risks, assess hygiene in production processes, and verify compliance with quality requirements. Our analyses support producers, distributors, and the food service industry in delivering safe and high-quality food products.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD
Both EU and Polish regulations harmonize the requirements for microbiological testing, ensuring uniform standards for food safety. These regulations mandate the use of accredited testing methods, guaranteeing reliable results and consumer protection:
- Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs.
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.
Services Offered
For food producers and distributors:
- Product safety control – detection of pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Quality monitoring – analysis of total microbial count, molds, yeasts, as well as psychrophilic and mesophilic microorganisms affecting product shelf life.
- Product inspection on distribution stage – testing for pathogens in food during distribution.
- Freshness assessment – evaluating mesophilic and psychrophilic microbial counts to determine product freshness and quality.
- Frozen food analysis – detection of molds, yeasts, and hygiene indicators in frozen and chilled products.
- Compliance testing – verifying compliance with national and international standards for imported and exported food.
Testing of swabs and sanitary conditions:
- Surface cleanliness inspection – sampling and analysis of swabs from work surfaces, machinery, tools, and equipment used in food production.
- Personnel hygiene assessment – testing swabs from employees’ hands, protective clothing, and other work attire.
- Air monitoring – detecting microorganisms in air within food processing and storage areas.
- HACCP audit testing – supporting the evaluation of food safety management systems’ effectiveness.
For catering companies:
- Ready meal testing – safety assessment of prepared meals, including those stored under refrigeration or reheated.
- Ingredient analysis – testing raw materials used in food preparation, such as meat, vegetables, and dairy products.
- Hygiene control in transit – testing samples from food packaging and storage containers used during transportation.
Process Hygiene Indicators
- total microbial count,
- Enterobacteriaceae count,
- Escherichia coli count,
- presence of Salmonella,
- coagulase-positive staphylococci presence.
Product Safety Indicators
- presence of Salmonella spp,
- presence of Salmonella Enteritidis,
- presence of Salmonella Typhimurium,
- presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
Additional Testing
ANCHEM Testing Laboratory also conducts microbiological tests to help control product and production process quality:
- coliform bacteria count,
- Pseudomonas spp. count,
- presumptive Bacillus cereus count,
- sulfate-reducing Clostridium spp. count,
- Clostridium perfringens count,
- yeast and mold count,
- presence of Escherichia coli,
- presence of Enterobacteriaceae,
- presence of coliform bacteria,
- presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species),
- presence of anaerobic spore-forming bacteria,
- presence of anaerobic spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacteria.
Sensory Testing
At ANCHEM Testing Laboratory, we analyze and assess the organoleptic properties of food. Depending on the product, tests may include: taste, smell, texture, color, appearance, surface condition, and water solubility.
What makes ANCHEM the right choice?
- Comprehensive approach – we test food, raw materials, equipment, and production environments, ensuring complete control over quality and hygiene.
- Fast results – we deliver precise analyses and reports in a short time frame.
- Regulatory compliance – we use accredited methods that meet the requirements of sanitary inspections, HACCP, ISO, and food law.
- Expert support – we provide not only test results but also recommendations for corrective actions in case of non-compliance.
- Broad testing range – we offer microbiological, physicochemical, sensory, and molecular analyses.
No matter whether you are involved in production, distribution, or catering, ANCHEM Testing Laboratory is your trusted partner for microbiological testing. Contact us to tailor our services to your company’s needs and ensure the highest level of food safety.