Process Validation Studies

Despite significant scientific advances, over $7 billion in productivity losses are attributed to contaminated food products annually in the United States. In the face of these statistics, companies must minimize risks posed by microbiological, chemical, and physical contaminants, and are charged by regulators with demonstrating the effectiveness of their processes to reduce contamination risks.

Through process validation studies, Silliker researchers can provide your company with reliable data to validate your processes and meet regulatory directives.

When you make changes to your formulation, equipment and process, how do you ensure that you have the level of control you need? Following general time/temperature models for log reduction may not be effective enough for your specific process. Silliker Researchers can conduct custom process validation studies to verify the effectiveness of your processes to reduce the presence of spoilage organisms and pathogens, extend product shelf-life, and assure product safety. Our study, designed to accurately simulate your process at our research facility, can verify that your process is achieving the necessary log reduction to meet lethality standards.

Data gained from our studies can help you make important decisions to protect the integrity of your product, such as:

• Verifying log reduction in accordance with current regulations
• Using proper holding temperatures
• Establishing optimal cooking times and temperature
• Determining whether equipment modifications or replacement are required

We document every aspect of your process. This information could help identify weak points and help you eliminate reworked product. With our extensive knowledge of pathogenic behavior, we correctly "challenge" your process. Our validation studies are recognized industry-wide for their attention to detail, providing you with added confidence.

From heat penetration to high press pasteurization, Silliker researchers possess years of experience with leading thermal and non-thermal processes. To give you the precise data you need, our scrupulously designed studies are conducted under conditions that closely simulate your processing system.

Contact Silliker Food Science Center Client Services to find out how our professionals can help you assure the safety of your product or process by designing studies to improve your food safety and quality programs.