The Laemmegroup Laboratory of Moncalieri (Italy) has been active in the field of histology since 2009. For about two years, the Laboratory has been providing food histology services for the compositional quality assessment of meat-based products ? for instance, the detection of any residues deriving from previous food processing steps. In addition to this analytical service, the Laboratory has recently introduced a new method allowing to identify the presence of gelling agents, thickeners and stabilisers in meat-based products.
Foodform a three-dimensional network that retains considerable amounts of water, hence improving the product?s consistency. The same additives are also utilised for their stabilising properties as a technological support in the production of flavourings for the meat industry. In this case, their presence in the end product is not indicated on the label.
The new histological method at Laemmegroup involves fixing the sample in formalin, dehydrating and embedding the sample in paraffin wax and the final process of microtome cutting into 4-5
This type of analysis is qualitative and the different possible measurands are indicated in Table 1. Those measurands can hardly be detected simultaneously if another analytical technique is used. This analysis does not provide the exact identification of a single specific substance. It indeed identifies, even in small traces, the presence of gelling agents, thickeners and stabilisers in meat-based products.
The analysis is also helpful to verify the correspondence between the ingredients indicated on the label and the actual composition of the products, and to perform a qualitative evaluation of the product.
The Laemmegroup Laboratory is the first in Italy to carry out this type of analysis.
For more information on this topic, please contact Chiara Mulasso – cmulasso@laemmegroup.it
About Laemmegroup S.r.l.:
Laemmegroup is a service company that operates laboratories specialised in the analysis of foodstuffs, animal feed, and water destined for human consumption. Through the use of the most current technologies, we carry out analyses for all of the agri-food production industries.
Tentamus Group GmbH was founded in 2011. Tentamus is a global product and safety group with a core presence in Europe, UK, Israel, China, Japan, India and the USA. Accredited and licensed Tentamus Group tests, audits and consults on all products involving the human body (food & feed, pharmaceuticals & medical, agrosciences, cosmetics, agriculture & environment and nutraceutical & supplements). Tentamus Group is represented in over 65 locations worldwide. More than 2,500 highly-trained staff members work in over 2.5 million square feet of laboratory and office spaces. For further information please visit www.tentamus.com.