Shelf-life Testing - Harken Research

Food & Beverage Testing

ISO17025 accredited

Harken Research provides comprehensive testing for food, beverages, and food ingredients to ensure product quality and safety. We specialize in the analysis of vitamins, amino acids, sugars, artificial sweeteners, artificial dyes, and impurities such as heavy metals. Our lab also supports allergen testing, microbiology, shelf-life, nutrition facts panels through trusted partners.

With deep expertise in method development, we’re continually expanding our capabilities and can develop new tests quickly upon request. We offer quick turnaround times, with rush processing available.

Quick Turnaround

FAST TURNAROUNDS.

Rush processing available.

Chemical Impurities

We test for chemical impurities, contaminants, and manufacturing byproducts including:

  • Acylamide
  • Biogenic amines
  • Ethyl acetate
  • Heavy metals
  • Mycotoxins
  • Nitrosamines
  • Residual solvents
  • Unknown impurities & byproducts

Ingredients

We offer quantitative chemical tests for many food and beverage ingredients, such as:

  • Amino acids
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Caffeine
  • Ethanol
  • Flavors
  • Sugars
  • Taurine
  • Theanine
  • Vitamins

Herbal supplements

We test for active ingredients in herbal and chemical supplements, including:

  • Ashwagandha
  • Elderberry
  • Gingko biloba
  • Ginseng
  • Melatonin
  • Turmeric

Adulterants

  • Cellulose
  • Starch

Microbiological testing

Microbial tests include:

  • Total aerobic counts
  • Total yeast and mold
  • Coliforms
  • Salmonella
  • E coli

Shelf-life testing

Shelf-life studies are designed per your requirements. Click here to go to our Shelf Life Testing Page

  • Ingredient stability
  • Ingredient adsorption to packaging
  • Homogeneity
  • Package integrity
  • Organoleptics
  • Microbial shelf-life

Non-alcoholic beverages

  • Amino acids
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Brix
  • Caffeine
  • Electrolytes & Minerals
  • Flavors
  • Herbal supplements
  • pH
  • Preservatives
  • Organic acids (acetic, citric, lactic, malic, sorbic, tartaric)
  • Sugars

Wine, Beer, and Kombucha

  • Ethanol
  • Ethyl acetate
  • Methanol
  • pH and Brix
  • Organic acids (acetic, citric, lactic, malic, sorbic, tartaric)
  • Sugars
  • Smoke taint testing
  • Microbial testing
  • Heavy metals
  • Minerals

Sports Supplements

  • Amino acids: BCAAs, beta alanine, L-glutamine, and others
  • Caffeine
  • Creatine
  • Electrolyte drinks
  • Vitamins

 

Click each test below to learn more

Chemical Impurities

Cadaverine, Histamine, Phenethylamine, Putrescine, Spermidine, Spermine, Tryptamine, Tyramine by HPLC

By GC-MS-headspace

Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, Ochratoxin A by LC-MS/MS

EPA 8270: N-Nitrosodiphenylamine, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, N-Nitroso dipropylamine, Diethylnitrosoamine, 1-Nitrosopiperidine, N-Nitroso-N-methylethylamine, Nitrosomorpholine, N-Nitrosodi-n-butylamine, 1-Nitrosopyrrolidine

Other panels available upon request

Ingredient Testing

Individual amino acids or panels available.

acesulfame, aspartame, sucalose, others

Butter flavoring agent found used in popcorn and other foods.

Apigenin, Cyanidin, Delphinidin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Orientin, Peonidin, Quercetin, Rutin, Silybin, Vitexin, Xanthohumol, 3-O-beta-Rutinoside, 7-O-beta-Glucoside by LC-MS/MS. 

Others available upon request.

Acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, sorbic acid, tartaric acid by HPLC

sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium metabisulfite

nitrite

Fructose, Glucose, Lactose, Mannose, Sucrose

Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E

Basic Testing

Metals and Minerals

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury by ICPMS

Herbal & Chemical Supplements

Food adulterants

A qualitative test is performed using iodine as an indicator. Quantitative testing is done for positive samples.

Non-alcoholic beverage testing

BCAAs: Isoleucine, Leucine, Valine

Beta-alanine, L-Citrulline, Glutamine, Taurine, Tyrosine

Others available upon request

acesulfame, aspartame, sucalose, others

Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride

Ashwagandha, gingko biloba, ginseng, melatonin, 5HT

sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate by HPLC

Acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, sorbic acid, tartaric acid by HPLC

Fructose, Glucose, Mannose, Sucrose

B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E

Wine, Beer, and Kombucha Testing

by GC-MS

by GC-MS

Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury by ICP-MS

Expanded panels available.

Calcium, Chloride,  Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc by ICP-MS

Acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, sorbic acid, tartaric acid by HPLC

Fructose, Glucose, Mannose, Sucrose

Sports Supplements

BCAAs: Isoleucine, Leucine, Valine

Arginine, Beta-alanine, L-Citrulline, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Glutamine, Ornithine, Taurine, Tyrosine

Others available upon request

Quantitative analysis by HPLC

Calcium, Chloride,  Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc by ICP-MS

sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate by HPLC

B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E