Chemical Food Testing
Reliable chemical food testing solutions ensuring FDA compliance, precise food chemical analysis, and consumer safety nationwide.
Comprehensive Chemical Analysis
AGT Food Labs offers comprehensive chemical food testing services to support manufacturers, processors, importers, and distributors across the United States. Our food chemical analysis ensures regulatory compliance, protects consumer safety, verifies nutritional accuracy, and helps maintain consistent product quality.
Using validated instrumentation, our chemical testing programs help identify hazardous substances, verify label claims, and evaluate degradation to meet FDA, EPA, and international safety standards.
Laboratory Capabilities Summary: Headquartered in Houston, TX, AGT Labs provides accredited chemical food testing for US manufacturers, importers, and distributors. Utilizing validated AOAC, AOCS, EPA, and FDA methods, our ISO 17025 facility analyzes food additives, pesticide residues, heavy metals (Prop 65), and provides complete FDA nutritional labeling to ensure strict federal compliance.
How to Submit Samples
A streamlined, 4-step testing workflow designed to clear products and get them to the US market faster.
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01. Request
Submit your chemical food testing request online or contact our Houston lab for a custom quote.
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02. Shipping
Send your samples (approx. 100 g; contact us to confirm) using our secure Chain of Custody form.
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03. Analyze
Our chemists analyze your samples using validated methods (AOAC, AOCS, EPA, FDA).
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04. Report
Receive your official Certificate of Analysis (CoA) via email, with standard turnaround of 5+ business days.
Also available: Instrumentation SSF (metals, pesticides, additives) · Water SSF
Why Chemical Analysis Matters
Chemical contaminants, mislabeled ingredients, nutrient deviations, and formulation inconsistencies represent major regulatory and financial risks. Routine chemical food testing helps identify hazardous substances, verify strict label claims, and evaluate product degradation.
Whether you are validating raw materials, ensuring finished product compliance, or supporting shelf-life stability studies, AGT Labs delivers accurate analytical results designed to meet FDA, EPA, and international safety standards.
Our Testing Services
Reliable chemical food testing and complete food chemical analysis to ensure safety and compliance.
Food Additives & Preservatives
Ensure your food formulations comply with quality and regulatory expectations through comprehensive food additives testing. We analyze preservatives, antioxidants, food colors, caffeine, sugars, and vitamins to support product development, quality assurance, labeling verification, and market compliance.
- Preservatives Testing (Benzoic & Sorbic Acid)
- Synthetic Dyes Analysis (6 FD&C Colors)
- Antioxidants Testing (BHA, BHT, TBHQ)
Food Contaminants & Residues Analysis
Protect your brand and consumers from hazardous substances. Our advanced chemical food testing and precise heavy metal testing in food detects trace residues at parts-per-billion levels to ensure toxicological safety compliance with FDA, EPA, and international safety standards.
- Heavy Metals Analysis (Lead/Pb, Cadmium/Cd, Arsenic/As, Mercury/Hg)
- Pesticide Residues (LC-MS/MS)
- Nitrofurans & Triphenylmethane Dye Residues
Heavy Metal Testing
Toxic elements enter food through soil, water, equipment, and packaging and they cannot be cooked or washed out. Our ICP-MS heavy metal testing quantifies lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury at parts-per-billion levels in food, beverages, and water, supporting FDA action levels, the "Closer to Zero" targets, and Prop 65 safe harbor assessment.
- The "Big Four" (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) — AOAC 2015.01
- 13-Element Panel (Zn, Cu, Se, Cr, Mn, Sn, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Ni)
- Drinking Water Trace Metals & Mercury (EPA 245.1)
California Prop 65 Compliance
Comprehensive Prop 65 food testing and heavy metals analysis (Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury) to ensure compliance with California Proposition 65 safe harbor levels. We assist in determining if your product requires a warning label based on daily serving size exposure.
- Lead (Pb) & Cadmium (Cd)
- Arsenic (As) & Mercury (Hg)
- Safe Harbor Level Assessment
Pesticide Residue & MRL Testing
Multi-residue analysis for pesticides to meet Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). Ensure your raw materials are free from prohibited agricultural chemicals through rigorous testing of food products using highly sensitive LC-MS/MS technology.
- Multi-Residue Screen (LC-MS/MS)
- Global Export MRL Compliance
- Organic Verification
Nutritional Analysis & FDA Labeling
Accurate nutritional data is legally required for regulatory compliance and transparent consumer communication. We provide complete macronutrient profiling, accurate FDA nutritional analysis, and proximate testing to support your FDA Nutrition Facts panels.
- Full Nutrition Facts Panel (FDA 21 CFR Part 101)
- Cholesterol & Minerals Profiling
- Caffeine & Vitamin Analysis
Gluten-Free Verification Testing
ISO/IEC 17025 and FDA LAAF accredited gluten/gliadin testing by R5 ELISA (Veratox, SOP 041) to verify "Gluten-Free" claims below the FDA 20 ppm limit. Gluten is the only allergen we test.
- Gluten-Free Verification (<20ppm)
- Environmental Gluten Swabs & Sponges
- Gluten in Water
Food Quality & Stability Testing
Fundamental physicochemical properties determine the quality, stability, and shelf life of your products. We analyze essential parameters to monitor oxidative stability and chemical spoilage.
- Water Activity (aw) Analysis
- pH Testing
- Rancidity Testing (Peroxide Value (PV) & Free Fatty Acid (FFA))
FDA Import Detention Testing
FDA LAAF accredited testing (listed microbiology and gluten methods) for imported products detained by the FDA. We help importers clear DWPE (Detention Without Physical Examination) alerts using our FDA LAAF-accredited methods, with expedited analysis of samples collected by your sampler and direct reporting to FDA.
- DWPE Alert Clearance
- Expedited Analysis & Reporting
- Regulatory Compliance Support
Analytical Methods & Standards
We utilize validated methods from internationally recognized organizations to ensure chemical food testing accuracy.
| Analysis Type | Method Reference | Technique / Instrumentation |
|---|---|---|
| Total Sugars | SOP 058 | HPLC |
| Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) | AOAC 2015.01 | ICP-MS |
| Pesticide Residue | AOAC 2007.01 (modified) | LC-MS/MS |
| Preservatives (Benzoic & Sorbic Acid) | SOP 056 | HPLC |
| Water Activity (Aw) | AOAC 978.18 | Vapor Pressure |
| Vitamin C | AOAC 2012.22 (SOP 084) | HPLC |
Regulatory Compliance Expertise
Expert chemical food testing to ensure your products meet strict state and federal standards.
California Prop 65
Low-level ICP-MS testing of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury for California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act ("Safe Harbor Levels").
FDA Labeling
Complete nutritional analysis to support FDA 21 CFR Part 101 Nutrition Facts labeling requirements and health claims.
FSMA Compliance
Preventive control testing programs designed to meet Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements nationwide.
US Industries We Serve
Supporting a wide range of food sectors with precise analytical chemistry.
Food & Beverage Manufacturers
Ingredient Suppliers
Ready-to-Eat Food Producers
Meat, Poultry & Seafood
Dairy Manufacturers
Bakeries & Confectionery
Fresh Produce Distributors
Cold Storage & Warehousing
US Importers & Exporters
Sanitation & Hygiene Providers
Bottled Water & Beverages
Catering & Central Kitchens
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our chemical testing services for food products.
What is included in a standard Proximate Analysis?
How do you determine if an oil or fat has gone rancid?
Does your testing distinguish between Total Sugars and Added Sugars?
What is the difference between Moisture Content and Water Activity?
Can you test for specific vitamins to verify label claims?
How are Prop 65 Heavy Metal limits calculated for my product?
Need Reliable Test Results?
Join hundreds of US food manufacturers who trust AGT Labs for accurate, accredited, and timely results.
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