UKAS-Accredited Lab Testing of Finished Food Supplement Products

A UK food supplement brand is seeking a UKAS-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) laboratory, preferably located in the UK, to conduct independent pre-launch testing of four finished food supplement products manufactured in the UK. Retail-packaged sample pots from one batch of each product will be provided. This is a one-time project with potential for ongoing batch testing.

Testing requirements:

1. Magnesium Capsules (magnesium malate, glycinate, taurate, zinc, and vitamin B6)

• Elemental magnesium and zinc
• Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic

2. Botanical Capsules (kelp, red clover, wild yam, other plant extracts, vitamin B6, and zinc)

• Zinc, iodine, and vitamin B6
• Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic
• Microbiology: E. coli, Salmonella, yeast, and mould

3. Multivitamin and Mineral Capsules (including seaweed and live bacteria)

• Iron, zinc, manganese, and selenium
• Folic acid, vitamin D3, and vitamin B12
• Culture-based enumeration of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis (declared 1 billion CFU per capsule)
• Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic
• Microbiology: E. coli, Salmonella, yeast, and mould

4. Marine Collagen Powder (flavoured, containing vitamin C, zinc, and biotin)

• Protein, vitamin C, and zinc
• Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic
• Microbiology: total plate count, E. coli, Salmonella, yeast, and mould
• Optional follow-up testing for inorganic arsenic

Laboratory requirements:

• Testing under UKAS/ISO 17025 accreditation, with accreditation number and applicable test scope confirmed
• Reports identifying product name, batch number, and laboratory accreditation details, suitable for marketplace compliance
• Combined mineral and heavy metal analysis using ICP-MS where feasible
• Culture-based plate counting for live bacteria enumeration

Laboratories should provide itemized quotations per product and test, any available discount for testing all four products, required sample quantities, and estimated turnaround times. Please also quote for repeat live bacteria enumeration of the same batch near the end of shelf life.