Dietary Foods, Plant-Based and Vegan Food

Our services for the safety of dietary, plant-based, and vegan foods

The food industry is undergoing a significant change, with increasing focus on dietary, plant-based, and vegan products. Consumers are becoming more informed and are seeking foods that are healthy, sustainable, and free of animal-derived ingredients.

This trend has driven companies in the sector to create new formulations, improving the safety and compliance of products through in-depth analysis and rigorous certifications.

Dietary, plant-based, and vegan products are not just a passing trend but cater to well-defined nutritional and health needs: from reducing environmental impact to improving physical well-being, these foods are becoming increasingly popular.

However, ensuring the quality and safety of these products requires special attention at every stage of production: from sourcing raw materials to distribution.

With the increasing demand for meat and dairy alternatives, the food industry faces new challenges, such as the need to balance the nutritional value of formulations, prevent cross-contamination, and ensure that the ingredients used meet high-quality standards.

Certification and quality control become essential tools to build consumer trust and avoid food safety issues.

Ensuring the quality and safety of dietary and plant-based foods is not only a necessity to meet consumer expectations but also a regulatory requirement to operate in national and international markets.

Our experts support companies with an advanced scientific approach, offering laboratory analysis, stability testing, process validations, and market research to ensure compliance and commercial success of products.

Safety and Quality of Plant-Based and Vegan Products

Working with dietary, plant-based, and vegan foods presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to safety and quality. From preventing cross-contamination to ensuring that nutritional values remain stable over time, there is a lot to consider.

With the rise in demand for plant-based alternatives and specialized foods, it has become essential to constantly monitor nutritional parameters, contaminants, and organoleptic characteristics to ensure everything meets the standards required by consumers and regulatory bodies. 

In addition, the shelf life of these products is a crucial aspect: many plant-based alternatives do not have the same shelf life as meat or dairy, which can complicate the management of their shelf life. It is essential to keep an eye on ingredient stability, potential oxidation of plant fats, and interactions with natural additives to ensure that the product remains safe and appealing over time. 

The production of plant-based foods also poses challenges related to ingredient stability, allergen management, and the need to avoid cross-contamination. Using plant-based raw materials requires careful control to prevent oxidation issues, unwanted fermentation, and alterations in organoleptic characteristics.

At Lifeanalytics, we propose an integrated approach that includes laboratory analysis, sensory evaluation, regulatory consulting, and shelf life testing, all to ensure the compliance and safety of products. 

These services help companies identify potential issues in their production processes, optimize formulations, and improve the acceptability of products to the public.

Analysis and Control for Dietary and Plant-Based Foods

Dietary and plant-based foods have unique nutritional and technological characteristics that require careful monitoring to avoid contamination, alterations, and health risks for consumers. The absence of animal-derived ingredients does not automatically guarantee greater safety: the management of raw materials, proper storage, and the integrity of ingredients are all key factors to ensure a healthy product that complies with current regulations.  

The use of new plant proteins, such as those derived from peas, soy, rice, or wheat, requires detailed analysis to ensure the absence of contaminants and allergens, in addition to maintaining a balanced nutritional profile. Moreover, the adoption of innovative ingredients like algae and fungi to improve flavor and texture presents new challenges in terms of safety and compliance.

At Lifeanalytics, we can support you with advanced analysis services to ensure the safety and compliance of your products with current regulations. 

Among the main analytical services we offer are:

• Residues and Contaminants: Monitoring the presence of antibiotic-inhibiting residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, dioxins, and PCBs, PAHs, and process contaminants, ensuring that products comply with safety limits set by European and international regulations.
• Food Safety: Identification of MOSH-MOAH, PFAS, and furfuryl alcohol, contaminants that can accumulate in foods during production or packaging.
• Allergen and GMO Control: Testing to detect regulated allergens (Reg. 1169 and Export) and the presence of GMOs, essential for certifying a product as plant-based or vegan.
• Product Quality and Integrity Verification: Analysis of the presence of microplastics, vitamins, and additives to ensure the stability and nutritional value of the product.
• Food Authentication: Food Fraud & Authenticity to verify the genuineness of ingredients and prevent food fraud.
• Shelf Life and Stability: Challenge tests, stability tests, and shelf life studies to ensure the safety of the product throughout its lifecycle.
• Process Development and Validation: Scientific studies to optimize production processes and ensure that each phase meets the quality standards required by the market.

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Sensory Analysis and Market Testing

The success of a dietary or plant-based product is not only based on its safety but also on the sensory experience it offers. Taste, texture, and aroma are crucial factors in determining how much a consumer might accept a product. Lifeanalytics offers advanced tools to analyze and improve these aspects through targeted tests.

Specific services for dietary, vegan, and plant-based foods include:

• Taster Panel Tests and Sensory Home Tests: Both qualitative and quantitative evaluations to understand how much a product is liked and how it is perceived.
• Market Research and Consumer Tests: Studies to discover consumer preferences, their purchasing behavior, and how the product compares to the competition.
• Labeling and Regulatory Compliance: A Labeling & Regulatory service to ensure that label information is clear and complies with regulations.

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Lifeanalytics Food: Discover the full range of services dedicated to the food industry

Lifeanalytics Food offers a comprehensive range of analysis, consulting, and training services to ensure the safety and quality not only of Dietary, Plant-Based, and Vegan Foods but also of milk and dairy products, meat and derivatives, pasta and baked goods, and much more.

Our chemical, microbiological, nutritional, and sensory analyses, along with our consulting and regulatory update services, help manufacturers comply with current regulations, protect consumer health, and maintain market trust.

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You might be interested in: Sensory analysis | Meat and derivatives | Milk and derivatives