Contaminant Analysis in Food
At J.S. Hamilton laboratories, we perform comprehensive analyses of contaminants and pollutants in food and food supplements, ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and consumer confidence.
What are contaminants and pollutants?
Contaminants are substances that appear in food unintentionally—either from the environment, production processes, or processing. These include:
- Pesticides – residues of plant protection products used to protect crops. We test them according to EU standards (Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005) in fruits, vegetables, cereals, meat, milk, tea, mushrooms, and cultivation substrates.
- Heavy metals – such as cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic, which may accumulate in plants, fish, and foods of animal origin (Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006).
- Mycotoxins – secondary metabolites of moulds (e.g., Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium) that may threaten the safety of cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and dietary supplements.
- Process contaminants – such as acrylamide, MOSH/MOAH, 3-MCPD, and glycidyl esters, which may form during heating, refining, or food packaging processes.
- Other natural or environmental toxins – including dioxins, PCBs, PAHs, nitrates/nitrites, melamine, plant alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, and perchlorates.
How we perform the analyses?
For precise determination, we use modern accredited analytical methods, including:
- HPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS for pesticides, mycotoxins, and process contaminants
- ICP-OES and ICP-MS for heavy metals
- Specialized analytical methods for MOSH/MOAH, alkaloids, perchlorates, and other contaminants
Our laboratory can provide compliance verification with EU and FDA standards, GLOBAL GAP certification support, food safety assessment, and expert consultation on the interpretation of analytical results.
Why choose J.S. Hamilton?
- More than 60 years of experience in food and dietary supplement analysis
- Accredited methods and a flexible testing scope
- Access to testing for more than 700 pesticides and numerous other contaminants
- Accurate and reliable results supporting product safety and regulatory compliance
To ensure the safety of your food products or dietary supplements, contact us today to arrange laboratory analyses.