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Shelf-life Assessment

The shelf life of a product is based on specific factors affecting product quality. In the case of chilled products and products with high water activity (a_w), microbiological stability is likely to be the determining factor for shelf life. However, for ambient stable products and those with low a_w, sensory and physico-chemical changes determine the shelf life. These include staling, rancidity development, breakdown of texture, loss of flavour, colour changes and loss of functionality.

Key Service Features

• Re-formulation to extend shelf life and troubleshooting relating to structural breakdown - e.g. separation/precipitation/graining/bloom
• Risk assessment and complete microbiological analysis of your products during storage
• Micro-structural assessment of changes during storage
• Measurement of changes in texture, colour, rheology, and nutritional parameters such as vitamins and sugars
  Sensory profiling using a highly experienced trained panel, to give a complete description of product quality characteristics and the way in which they change
• Consumer testing to measure changes in acceptability levels over time
• Accelerated shelf-life testing under controlled climatic conditions
• Results interpretation and guidance as to what the results mean to your products

Case Studies:

• Shelf-life trials on ready-to-eat products and raw products stored at chilled conditions.
• Shelf-life testing of filled salad wraps stored at chilled conditions.
• Monitoring the effect of different packaging on the shelf-life of ready-to-eat product at chilled conditions.
• Shelf-life testing of beverages, snacks, dressings and bakery products stored under ambient conditions 
• Accelerated shelf life testing on frozen samples

Back-of-Pack
Leatherhead also offers a complete solution that will ensure the accuracy of data, and also help you manage the critical timeline by generating all the essential back-of-pack information and providing you with a tailored consolidated report featuring all the information that you require.

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