Food & Beverage Products | The Laboratory Outsourcing Network

Food & Beverage Products Articles

Heavy Metals in Protein Powder: Benchmarks, Test Methods, and Lab Criteria

By Swathi Kodaikal | Oct 6, 2026

With no federal lead limit, brands rely on per-serving specs, ICP-MS methods, and qualified labs

An analytical chemist loads digested protein powder samples into an ICP-MS autosampler for heavy metals testing, with whey, pea, and chocolate protein powders and microwave digestion vessels on the bench.

2026 LabXpo Food Safety Testing & Quality Assurance Digital Event Available on Demand

Sep 10, 2026

How Are Food Testing Labs Detecting Fraud in Everyday Ingredients?

Sep 2, 2026

How Are Modern Food Labs Adapting to New Demands in Protein Analysis?

Aug 31, 2026

Two food scientists in a modern R&D lab reviewing data on a tablet, while a digital texture analyzer tests a raw plant-based burger patty in a glass petri dish alongside samples of oat milk, soybeans, and pea protein.

Why Vegan, Plant-Based Food Demands Strict Laboratory Testing

Aug 18, 2026

a lab-grown meat patty i a petri dish illustrating the imprtance of lab validation

Cell-Cultured Meat: Testing for Growth Media Residues

Feb 10, 2026

Regulators are watching: Ensure your cultivated meat is free from growth factor residues before it hits the shelves.

scientist folding a poece of jerkey-style pet treat e,phasizing the importance of laboratory testing

Pet Treat Safety Testing: Salmonella Validation & Irradiation Analysis

Feb 10, 2026

Jerky treats are a Salmonella magnet. Verify your 'Kill Step' efficiency without turning the product into cardboard.

baby food jars on a modern lab bench illustrating the closer-to-zero mandate in food testing

The “Closer to Zero” Mandate: Is Your Heavy Metal Testing Sensitive Enough?

Feb 10, 2026

Standard metal screens aren't sensitive enough for the FDA's new baby food standards. Do you have the right LOD (Limit of Detection?)

a modern lab with a technician performing PFAS testing on food packaging

The 2026 PFAS Packaging Bans: Is Your Wrapper Compliant?

Feb 10, 2026

Relying on a "Certificate of Compliance" from a supplier is no longer enough to satisfy state regulators or vigilant consumer advocacy groups.

top-down shot of fresh, washed fruits (citrus and berries) with water droplets, taking up the left 2/3 of the frame. Overlaid on the right side (fading in) is a digital representation of a chromatogram graph or chemical molecular structures.

Fruit Pesticide Residue Testing: A Laboratory Guide to Principles and Methods

Jan 13, 2026

Fruits are an essential part of a healthy diet, but they can also be a vector for pesticide residues

Quality control expert inspecting at chicken eggs in the laboratory.

Going Beyond Traditional Methods to Tackle Food Testing Demands

Nov 3, 2025

Here's how your laboratory can adapt to stay relevant in the evolving food safety and testing industry

Boxed lunches with rice, vegetables, and meat ready to be packed.

Managing OPRPs in ISO 22000 Food Safety Frameworks

Oct 16, 2025

From hazard assessment to validation testing, understanding and maintaining OPRPs is critical for compliance and audit readiness in today’s food industry

Chemical resistance test on porcelain enamel with acid drop in lab.

The Unseen Barrier: In-Depth Testing of Glazes, Enamels, and Coatings

Sep 30, 2025

Coatings, glazes, and enamels define product performance. Learn about essential enamel analysis, glass coating testing, and protocols to guarantee long-term surface durability