AGRI-FOODS
Food Testing
Food Testing Division
AGAT Laboratories’ Food Testing Division is specially designed to meet the needs of our Agri-Food clients, food producers, restaurant suppliers and government agencies. Understanding that food safety is one of the largest public health and safety concerns faced today, we have focused on providing our clients with unparalleled quality control and accurate results to meet all of their food testing needs.
AGAT Laboratories’ Food Testing Division offers services in food safety, development and consulting including:
- Microbiological analysis
- Chemical analysis
- Environmental quality analysis
- Nutritional analysis and labeling
Our Food Testing Division also offers the following consulting services:
- Shelf-life testing.
- Internal and third-party audits.
- Regulatory compliance monitoring.
- Hazard analysis and critical control point planning.
- Risk management.
- Sampling plans and testing schedules.
- Training for sound hygiene and manufacturing practices.
Emergency Services
Along with insuring fast turn-around of data and immediate access to results, we can supply you with dedicated, around the clock service. Understanding the demand for emergency support, AGAT technical personnel are available 24 hours a day with on-call staff in each area of expertise.
Government of Canada Agri-Food
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Legionella Sampling and Testing
Please download our Legionella brochures below to learn more about our services and contact us directly for more information.
To view the Legionella brochures click here and then select the Environmental Division tab.
Microbiology Services
AGAT Laboratories has fully accredited microbiology laboratories to detect bacteria under strict quality assurance conditions. We can analyze for bacteria using a number of microbial techniques which satisfy the strict environmental regulations across Canada.
AGAT Laboratories can currently analyze for the following bacterial parameters in water, soil and/or food:
- Listeria spp.
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Salmonella spp
- E. coli 0157:H7
- Enterococci
- Yeast and Mould
- Total Coliforms
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Clostridium perfringens
- Clostridium botulinum
- Bacillus cereus
- Campylobacter
- E. coli
- Enterobacteriaceae
- Fecal Coliforms
- Pseudomonas areuginosa
- Viral Coliphages
- Sulfate Reducing Bacteria
- Iron-related Bacteria
- Sporulant Aerobic Bacteria
- Heterotrophic Plate Count
Genetic Detection
Our Microbiology Department employs the most up-to-date methodology and instrumentation to guarantee our results are of the highest quality and reliability. Our laboratory uses the MDS (Molecular Detection System) from 3M, the IQ-Check from BioRad, and the BAX Q7 from Dupont which pinpoint pathogens on a genetic level, ensuring absolute certainty in the detection of targeted bacteria.
Accreditation
Our microbiology laboratory is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada for the detection of food borne pathogens and uses methods prescribed by Health Canada as well as methods approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).
All of AGAT Laboratories’ microbiology laboratories are accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) for microbiological parameters with the exception of our Quebec Laboratory. This Microbiology laboratory is accredited for water, air, and soil analysis by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC).
Food Chemistry: The Next Level
Our food chemistry laboratory provides information concerning the composition of products necessary to industries that must conform to regulations on packaging and labelling of products for consumers. Many of our clients are mandated by the Food and Drug Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act to ensure their products include a specific list of nutritional facts on product labels in a pre-defined format.
As a part of our food chemistry services, we are able to offer you an accurate sample of a Health Canada approved Nutrition Facts Table. These labelling and formatting requirements can be provided for both Canadian and American food products.
Our food chemistry and nutritional labelling capabilities include:
- Calories
- Fatty acids and lipid profiles
- Cholesterol
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Dietary fibers and sugars
- Proteins
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Iron
- Heavy metals
- Additives, preservatives and other added ingredients
- Other analyses related to nutrition, pH and density
- Cannabis Edibles
Audits and Inspections
Our problem-solving teams and food safety experts can help create solutions for your product development needs.
AGAT Laboratories’ Food Science Specialists are trained and accredited on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). They have the experience necessary to provide our clients with inspection plans as well as sampling programs and analyses based on current regulations.
AGAT Laboratories’ sampling, audit and inspection services provide knowledge and support to:
- Ensure quality control measures are consistently achieved.
- Identify and eliminate potential sources of contamination.
- Implement food safety standards and procedures.
- Exceed government requirements and regulations.
- Optimize product performance for customers.
- Maximize efficiency and productivity.
Environmental Contaminants
Water, Soil and Air Analysis
Many of our food industry clients have on-site water treatment facilities to effectively manage wastewater in a cost-effective manner. To ensure you remain compliant with all necessary regulations, our laboratory can also analyze contaminants in water and soil as a complementary service. Additionally, to ensure that your facility is maintaining a safe and healthy environment, we offer comprehensive indoor air quality evaluations along with analytical services for mold, bacteria and other chemicals.
Our capabilities in this area include, but are not limited to:
- Organic tests
- Volatile Organic Compounds
- BTEX
- Petroleum Hydrocarbons
- Semi-volatiles
- PAHs
- PCBs
- Pesticides
- Dioxins and Furans
- Metals
- Inorganics
- Anions
- Cations
- Air Quality analysis
Technology
AGAT Laboratories has put forth significant investments in the purchasing and operation of the most advanced, state-of-the-art instrumentation and technology used in the food industry today. Our determination to provide the highest level of accuracy and reliability of results to our clients continues to be a focal point of the company objectives, setting us ahead of the competition.
Food Testing Instrumentation
The technology housed in our Food Testing Division allows for low detection limits coupled with high precision results.
Our food chemistry technology includes:
- High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of sugars and vitamins.
- Gas Chromatography (GCFID) for the quantification of fatty acids and cholesterol.
- Inductively-Coupled Plasma (ICP) analysis for metals and minerals.
The BAX Q7 Instrumentation
Our microbiology technology is highlighted by the BAX Q7 instrumentation that is renowned as a superior method for the precise detection of food-borne pathogens.
Our BAX Q7 produces results that are easily interpreted and quickly determined. Based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis, this method assists in the detection of multiple pathogens simultaneously. Up to 96 samples can be analyzed at the same time including raw materials, finished products and environmental samples.
This system automatically amplifies and detects pathogens while avoiding cross-contamination. It identifies micro-organisms on a genetic level, reporting their species differentiation along with their quantitative details.
The analytical capabilities of our BAX Q7 include:
- Salmonella spp.
- Listeria spp.
- Listeria monocytogenes
- E. coli O157
- Campylobacter spp.
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