Food Science Extension

Services

Through our Process Innovation Laboratory, we’re happy to help you analyze your new food product and develop a scheduled process (for food with a pH lower than 4.6).

Please contact us at foodsci_ext@utk.edu so we know to expect your sample and to verify what type of analyses you will need.

List of Services

1. Water activity and pH Analysis:

We test products for:

1. Water activity (to determine if a food is Non-Time and Temperature Control for Safety Food)
2. pH (to be sure acidified foods are below 4.6).

2. Nutrition Facts Panel:

We develop a Nutrition Facts Panel for your product based on ingredients and formulation. We do not have the resources to analyze the nutritional contact of a sample.

3. Process Letter for Food with a pH Lower than 4.6:

We provide a process letter for

• Formulated Acid Food (foods that have a natural pH of 4.6 or less) and
• Acidified food (food to which acid(s) or acid food(s) are added and which has a finished equilibrium pH of 4.6 or below).

Submission Process

Submission process is same for any services listed above. Any forms and documents missing and/or incomplete may result in delay.

Steps for submitting your request and sample:

Step 1: Complete the Sample Submission Form:

1. Save PDF to your computer.
2. Fill out the form.
3. Save and print.

Step 2: Complete the Product Formulation-Percentage by Weight Form:

1. Save PDF to your computer.
2. Fill out the form. When completing this form, please make sure to use the same units of measurement for weighing each ingredient (i.e., grams, ounces, pounds, etc.). Do not use cups, tsp, tbsp, or fluid ounces.
3. Save and print.

Step 3: Send the following documents to the address below:

1. At least 4 ounces of each sample for pH or water activity analysis,
2. Payment,
3. Sample submission form, and
4. Product formulation-percentage by weight form to:

University of Tennessee
Process Innovation Laboratory
2510 River Dr.
Food Science Building
Knoxville, TN 37996