Food Testing

Food safety and the prevention of microbiological contamination is a priority and legal requirement during any stage of the food production process. Our high degree of microbiological expertise and UKAS accreditation for an extensive range of microbiological tests, provides our clients with cost-effective quality assurance from farm to fork.

We are RSA approved and are fully experienced in tailoring our services to meet today’s demands of retail and manufacturing sectors.

Food Microbiology Tests

  • TVC – Total Viable Count
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Campylobacter
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Coliforms
  • E.coli
  • E.coli O157
  • Salmonella
  • Listeria
  • Enterobacteriaceae
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Lactic Acid bacteria
  • Pseudomonas
  • Yeast and Moulds
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Water Analysis

Whether you are using water from a borehole, potable water as a raw material, or are a manufacturer, water quality is essential for the environment and public safety.

We are UKAS accredited to carry out a range of microbiological water tests using methods in accordance with Environment Agency regulations.
  • Potable Water
  • Process Water

Water Microbiological Tests

  • TVC at 22°C and 37°C
  • Coliforms and E. coli
  • Sulphite reducing Clostridium
  • Enterococci
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Clostridium perfringens

We can also test

  • Bottled Drinking Water
  • Swimming Pool Samples
  • Legionella Samples

Swab Testing

Food factory environmental hygiene is vital at any stage of the food production process and it forms part of HACCP monitoring and due diligence.

Swabbing is a quick and effective method for monitoring your hygiene procedures:

Testing Swabs

Monitors the effectiveness of the food factory cleaning program and to validate critical control points highlighted through HACCP.

Personalised Swabbing Service

Provides independent verification of your cleaning procedures and assists in meeting your requirements with Food Hygiene Regulations 1991.

Hand Hygiene Swab Testing

Monitors the effectiveness of hand washing awareness policies.

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Non-Routine Testing

We can perform a range of non-routine tests to support your specific needs. We regularly undertake:

  • sensitive detection tests
  • shelf life testing
  • trend analysis
If you have any issues or concerns and would like information on how microbiology testing can help, please contact us for advice.

Alicyclobacillus

SMS can undertake sensitive detection tests to prevent spoilage by bacteria known as Alicyclobacillus. These bacteria can cause serious problems in fruit-based drinks because some strains are capable of producing a distinctive and powerful chemical taint and they are difficult to control once present in the processing environment.

Compost Testing

In accordance with PAS100, composted material and digestate must be safe, reliable and consistent before being marketed.  Where Animal By-Products are used to produce compost and digestates, strict guidelines must be adhered to. The methods used at SMS are in accordance with ABPR Regs and are UKAS accredited.

We can guide you through the legislation and standards applicable to your activities and undertake microbiological compost and digestate testing, ensuring you adhere to APB and PAS100 regulations and standards.

Testing available

  • E.coli
  • Salmonella
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Animal Feed Testing

The silage making process  can create contamination with undesirable bacterial species such as Salmonella and Listeria. Ingestion of contaminated animal feed can result in infection of sheep and cattle, which is why it is crucial to use good quality feed.

The methods used at SMS for animal feed testing are in accordance with ABPR Regs and are UKAS accredited.

Testing Available

  • Enterobacteriaeacea
  • Salmonella

Pet Food Testing

Multiple outbreaks of Salmonella related to pet food have affected the health of both pets and humans.

The methods SMS use for animal feed testing are in accordance with ABPR Regs and are UKAS accredited, ensuring you meet pet food production regulations.

Testing Available

  • Enterobacteriaeacea
  • Salmonella
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Cosmetic Testing

Challenge Testing

An important part of the development of cosmetic products is demonstrating it is safe for use and is not at risk of microbiological contamination during its shelf life. To evaluate the effectiveness of the antimicrobial preservatives, a quantity of known strains of microorganisms are inoculated into the product and tested over 28 days.

The survival or growth of the microorganisms will determine the:

  • quantity of preservative system
  • safety of the final product in the consumer market

Routine Testing

Routine testing of cosmetics ensures quality between batches and provides trending data for manufacturers to become microbiologically familiar with their products. Routine testing can be performed on finished products and raw materials. SMS are able to troubleshoot microbiological issues and analyse rejected batches of product to determine the causal factors.

Routine testing usually comprises of:

  • Total Viable Count
  • Yeast
  • Mould testing

Detection Testing

For cosmetic products it is relevant to detect skin pathogens such as:

  • Staph aureus
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Candida albicans

They are indicators of hygienic failure during the manufacturing process. SMS can offer detection testing for various bacteria and yeast.

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