Why is it important to test for protein in food?
Food tests ensure the efficiency of quality assurance and control procedures that should be implemented during food production.
They may also reveal the presence of other issues not identified by those procedures.
Many tests, such as the food test for protein, aim to measure food's nutritional content as well as health hazards.
Utilising a food test for protein is vital for many food manufacturers for a good number of reasons, including their reputation and consistency.
Why is food testing important?
Food testing is important because it permits an in-depth look at microscopic details of food; something that testing by hand, eye, and taste cannot establish.
Contaminated and spoiled food can often bear dangers that are invisible to the naked eye but can be harmful to health if consumed.
Food testing employs the best and most reliable science to obtain accurate results. These results allow food processors and manufacturers to avoid harmful problems lurking in their products, to avoid embarrassing and costly recalls, and to ensure that their products are made with the highest quality they can assure in a competitive marketplace.
But food testing is not only used for the potential problems in food: it’s also used to establish the nutritional values of different foods and to ensure that they have what they need in appropriate levels.
Why is it important to test for protein in food?
Protein is an essential part of the human diet, whether you eat meat and fish or abide by a vegetarian or vegan diet. Depending on your diet, the sources of protein may differ from another person.
Those who eat meat and poultry will find these foods are a big part of their protein intake, whereas those who prefer to consume plant-based foods will turn to sources like fruits, vegetables, and grains to get their protein.
It’s important to test for protein in food for several reasons, not least so food manufacturers can gauge how much protein their food(s) contains so they can advertise and label them accordingly.
For plant-based products, this is especially important as vegetarian and vegan diets regularly rely on meat substitutes to fill in the missing sources of complete protein present in omnivorous diets.
Individuals such as athletes who choose not to eat meat and fish will be especially reliant on these alternative sources, both for their careers and their health.
It also ensures that foods which are grown to be sources of protein have synthesised the right nutrients and will pass those nutrients on when consumed.
Is the quality of protein in food important?
Not all sources of protein in food are the same.
Some foods carry 'complete' proteins, which means they contain all the amino acids needed by the body to create new proteins.
Many of these are animal-derived, with meat, fish, dairy, and eggs all being foods that contain complete protein.
Other foods may contain protein, but not all of the nine essential amino acids are needed by the body:
● Isoleucine
● Leucine
● Lysine
● Histidine
● Valine
● Methionine
● Phenylalanine
● Threonine
● Tryptophan
These amino acids cannot be made or sourced in any way other than through food sources, so it’s important the body gets these through a combination of foods if they are not coming from complete proteins, as is often the case in plant-based diets.
In this way, the 'quality' of the protein in food is particularly important, as it can impact the body's ability to build muscle, regulate your immune system, and maintain your heart and respiratory system, to name a few functions.
How can you test food for protein?
One food test for protein involves the use of chemicals like sodium or potassium hydroxide and copper sulphate solutions, which will change colour according to the concentration of protein when mixed into a food sample.
However, a faster, simpler, and more accurate method of testing for protein lies in the use of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy.
NIR analysis uses light waves to gain insight to the makeup of foods including their protein content. This requires no grinding or special preparation of samples, and its speed makes it a highly repeatable food test for protein.
This is true for foods like cereals and meat, but for liquid dairy products like milk and cream, ultrasonic analysis can be used to test for protein instead.
What tools are available to test food for protein?
The best food tests for protein could not be done by hand.
Luckily, accessible equipment makes protein testing fast and easy.
Perten DA 7250 NIR Analyser
For NIR testing, the Perten DA 7250 NIR Analyser can measure foods in as little as six seconds. It also works as a piece of standalone equipment, not needing to be connected to a computer and making at-line testing even easier. This makes it suitable for on-site testing by farms and factories as well as laboratories.
To add additional checkpoints for protein testing, the Perten DA7350 In-Line analyser can be mounted to mixers or overhanging pipes to provide in-line NIR analysis during production.
GrainSense Protein Meter
The GrainSense Protein Meter is a revolutionary hand-held grain moisture meter which offers detailed in-field data on grain protein. As a handy device, it permits users to measure grain protein and moisture levels in a completely portable way.
Some of the results you can expect to collect with this product are grain nitrogen and moisturise levels. These insights can be crucial for those who want to manage their farm and crops according to direct data, permitting you to save money and time in the long run.
Farmers can avail of this easily obtainable data to facilitate rapid on-farm segregation of high and low-quality grains during harvest. This helps these individuals make faster and more accurate decisions, skyrocketing productivity on the farm.
In terms the details a GrainSense moisture meter provides, it’s able to issue numbers on protein, moisture, and oil.
This can inform farmers about lab level accuracy in the field, give them faster and improved accuracy on a wider scale, and give them an accurate number on oil, which is crucial for farmers to know.
One of the best things about this piece of equipment is that it can be used to scan in a field, directly transmitting the results to your mobile phone through an app.
These results can then be converted onto a spreadsheet and cross-referenced with others.
The GrainSense Protein Meter can test a wide variety of things including wheat, oilseed rape and barley, giving you a detailed view of where you have gotten each analysis from.
You do not need to test large quantities of grain either, as this piece of equipment only requires a small amount of grain for a detailed analysis, meaning that you don't have to sacrifice your crops for these results.
Collecting these details can be incredibly beneficial for farmers in terms of market research as it can give you a more intricate idea of where you should sell your products, what type of individual you should target your products at, and what you should price them at.
Lactoscan MCC Milk Analyser
The Lactoscan MCC Milk Analyser is a state-of-the-art device that performs quick analysis of milk and liquid dairy products in just 30 seconds.
It uses ultrasonic analysis to determine a wide range of parameters with just a small milk or dairy sample. This allows you to analyse milk under various parameters including fat, density, protein, salts, and pH, ensuring that you have a quality batch that meets the standard.
The Lactoscan MCC is controlled by an embedded Windows tablet with a touchscreen that displays results within 30 seconds. It also has an inbuilt printer for direct printing of results. The device is designed for use in laboratories and milk collection centres, providing accurate and succinct reporting for milk sample and batch analysis.
The Lactoscan MCC tests a variety of products including milk, cream, yoghurt, ice cream, and whey. It tests for parameters such as fat, solids non-fats, density, protein, lactose, salts, pH, and temperature.
The device boasts a number of features and benefits, such as fast analysis time with results within 30 seconds, easy-to-use touchscreen tablet display, portable and compact design, inbuilt printout of results, and the requirement of only a small milk sample for testing.
The Lactoscan MCC Milk Analyser is not just a device, but a revolution in the dairy industry.
Its ability to quickly and accurately analyse a variety of dairy products ensures that every batch meets the highest quality standards. This is particularly important in an industry where quality and consistency are key.
The device’s ultrasonic analysis capability allows for a comprehensive examination of the milk or dairy sample, providing a detailed breakdown of its composition. This level of detail is invaluable for those in the dairy industry, as it allows for precise control over the quality of their products.
In addition to its analytical capabilities, the Lactoscan MCC also boasts of user-friendly features.
Its touchscreen tablet display makes it easy to operate, while its compact design makes it portable and convenient to use.
The inbuilt printer allows for immediate printout of results, eliminating the need for manual record-keeping.
Furthermore, the device only requires a small milk sample for testing, making it a cost-effective solution for dairy analysis.
The Lactoscan MCC Milk Analyser is a comprehensive tool that combines efficiency, accuracy, and convenience, making it an indispensable asset in the dairy industry.
Perten IM9520 Flour NIR Analyser
The Perten IM9520 Flour NIR Analyser is a reliable and practical Near Infrared (NIR) instrument that offers an ideal solution for both laboratory and at-line analysis of flour and semolina.
It delivers results in under 30 seconds, making it a valuable tool in the baking industry. Regular bench-top analysis is crucial in maintaining the quality of flour used in all baked goods.
The Perten IM9520 proves to be highly effective in providing detailed analysis of flour and semolina at mills and bakeries.
It plays a vital role in meeting quality standards for consumers and in monitoring and adjusting production processes as needed.
The analyser can test for a range of parameters including moisture, protein, ash, wet gluten, Zeleny, Colour L & B, and more upon request. It is capable of analysing a variety of products such as wheat flour, rye flour, and semolina.
Choosing the Perten IM9520 comes with numerous benefits.
It provides accurate results quickly, in under 30 seconds, enabling real-time process improvements.
The IM9520 is user-friendly, featuring a large colour touch-screen, intuitive menus, and an easily accessible cuvette filling station. It comes equipped with ready-to-use calibrations that cover a wide variety of flour and wheat varieties.
As a member of the Perten Inframatic family, the IM9520 is specifically designed for precise flour analysis.
It uses NIR transmission to analyse samples, matched to industry-standard wavelengths during manufacturing.
This ensures that the IM9520 operates on a true wavelength scale, allowing for the use of calibrations across other instruments.
The spectroscopic NIR technique is rapid and yields reliable data in less than 30 seconds.
The IM9520 also boasts excellent network capabilities, with Windows connectivity and unlimited results data storage.
The Perten IM9520 Flour NIR Analyser utilises a comprehensive calibration database that comes standard with the instrument. These calibrations are ready for use for wheat flour, rye flour, and semolina, testing for key characteristics including moisture, protein, and ash.
With the cloud-based network, you can configure this instrument and access your results from anywhere at any time.
Flour millers can use the IM9520 to monitor and optimise yields, ensuring the quality of their product before distribution and delivery.
This rigorous quality control helps reduce returns and claims.
Bakers can use the IM9520 to ensure their ingredients will meet the quality demands of their end-products and make real-time process adjustments to optimise this quality.
Contact Calibre today for food protein testing
With the importance of food tests for protein firmly established, the question is now whether you need to incorporate protein testing into your processes, or whether your current equipment needs upgrading.
If you need new equipment or simply need expert advice on the best next steps for food testing, contact our team at Calibre Control.
We have been providing guidance to customers for many years and we only stock and promote products that we are sure we can put our name alongside.
To get the most customer-centric knowledgeable help in food testing, contact us today.