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We have been conducting food safety testing for over a decade, maintaining an extensive list of fully accredited microbiological testing our customers can truly rely on. In addition, our chemistry lab offers the fastest nutritional testing turnaround in Scotland.

End to End Integrity
At EMS, professional food safety testing doesn’t begin in the lab. To ensure both speed and integrity, we collect samples using our own fleet of chilled vans, delivering them for same day testing in our state-of-the-art facility. We also supply barcode registration systems, providing full traceability from factory to report.

Testing you can trust
UKAS accredited and approved by both Tesco (TLAS) and Marks & Spencer, our microbiological testing lab provides elite environmental and product testing; utilising ISO, ELISA, and PCR methodologies. There is no better place to go, to ensure the safety and quality of your produce and processes.

Food Safety Testing – Microbiology
Not only do we test for the long list of organisms below, but you can specify which method we use, to best suit your needs. We can even conduct shelf life testing validation; storing and temperature abusing products exactly as you require.

• TVC (Total Viable Count) also known as ACC
• Pseudomonads
• Staphylococcus
• Salmonella spp
• Yeasts
• Moulds
• Lactic Acid Bacteria
• Campylobacter jejuni
• Listeria spp (including L monocytogenes)
• Enterobacteriaceae
• Coliforms
• Bacillus spp (including B cereus)
• Clostridium spp (including C perfringens)
• Vibrio spp
• E. coli
• E. coli 0157

Our labs also test for anaerobic and aerobic spores, sulphite reducing bacteria, thermoduric bacteria, and more.

Allergen Testing 
Bacteria are not the only danger to health that can be found in food. At EMS, we want everyone to be safe, and to enjoy our customers’ products with total confidence. We offer UKAS accredited allergen testing so you can be sure products are safe, provide appropriate warnings, or even promote them as “free from” particular allergens.

To date, EMS is accredited for the following allergen testing:

• Sulphur Dioxide
• Histamine
• Gluten
• Mustard (available soon)

Nutritional Testing – Chemistry
Even if there are no dangerous bacteria or allergens present in food, adhering to nutritional standards is equally important in ensuring a healthy product, and avoiding penalties. Our UKAS accredited chemistry lab is able to provide the following nutritional testing:

  • Sodium
  • Moisture
  • Fats – Poly / Mono / Unsaturated
  • Omegas 3 and 6
  • Carbohydrates
  • Sugars – Glucose / Sucrose / Galactose / Maltose / Fructose / Lactose
  • Protein
  • Fibre (AOAC)
  • Aqueous salt
  • Meat Content
  • Fish Content
  • Energy
  • pH
  • Water activity

We also regularly test TVBN, sulphur dioxide, and pH levels. Should you require any nutritional testing we cannot conduct at EMS, our team will do all the leg work for you; arranging the test at another fully certified facility, at the right price.

PCR Testing – Next level testing, next day results
We understand time is not always a luxury our customers have. Thankfully, our PCR testing lab can check for Listeria, Salmonella and provide presence absence results within 25 hours. For when waiting is simply not an option.

Lambda Gateway – Intuitive, actionable science
We developed the Lambda Gateway, a bespoke results handling and reporting software designed to deliver the data our clients need, exactly how and when they need it. As an EMS client, Lambda puts you in control. Results can be trended, compared, and presented in near endless ways. View exactly what you need, and nothing of what you don’t, making your data fully relevant, intuitive, and quickly actionable.

Science Meets Service – Training & Support
Our service doesn’t end with your test results. Should you need any post-testing support, our microbiologists are available 7 days a week to discuss your results.

We also keep up to date with all ISO and British Standards, alerting you to any new legislation that may affect your planned sampling, testing, or corrective actions.

Our team can even provide comprehensive training courses in sample collection techniques, food and water safety, and much more. See all our training courses in the Training Services section.

Take a closer look.
For additional detail regarding all our tests, accreditations, and services, visit our Services page, or simply get in touch.