If you recently opened a new food distribution factory or processing plant, obtain food testing services now. In order to keep your consumers and buyers safe from illnesses and other issues, you must ensure each item you produce is free of contaminants. Food safety testing can help you do so. Learn more about the dangers of contaminated food and why food testing should be a top priority for your business below.

How Does Food Become Contaminated?

Products made for human and animal consumption should be free of things that could potentially contaminate them, including produce, meat, and baked goods. Bacteria, parasites, and other organisms can infiltrate your products at any given time, including during the cooking, packing, and shipping stages.

Food contamination can occur from many things, including poor handling of ingredients and unclean cooking conditions. Employees who don't thoroughly wash and dry their hands can allow unsafe debris to enter your products during the day. Storage and shipping containers can contain mold, bacteria, and other organisms that can also grow in raw goods.

If any of the conditions above occur in your factory or processing plant, you may be subject to costly product recalls and fines. Food testing allows you to catch and isolate unsafe conditions before they affect your clientele.

How Does Food Testing Help You?

You want to reach out to a food sanitation company and request testing services now.  A testing company may require you to obtain and ship samples of your items to a secure location for examination. If you need to test your containers, vehicles, or processing equipment, a testing company may come directly to your factory or processing plant.

To complete the test properly, you may need to obtain samples from every area of your food processing plant or factory. The samples may include produce, spices, and stored warehouse goods. If you handle fluids, such as water and cooking oil, you may need samples of these items as well. A tester will give you a detailed list of things you should pull samples from before the test.

A testing company will check all of the samples for signs of:

• microbial growth, including mold and bacteria
• foul odors, including signs of spoilage and cross-contamination
• discoloration
• abnormal substances or items inside your baked or packaged goods, such as ink pens and cutlery

If a company comes to your facility for the test, they may check the surfaces in your production area and storage units for signs of contamination as well. You may learn more about this stage of the testing process by contacting a testing company directly.

To keep your food items safe before, during, and after preparation, consult a food testing company today. To learn more, contact a resource like Daane Labs.