How to Get a Food Shelf Life Study

If you have a food product that you are planning on marketing to stores, it is essentially that you get a food shelf life study. It is important because the food shelf life study will give you information, such as how long your product will last before losing its microbiological quality. In sum, getting a shelf life study will help you in figuring your expiration date. For example, if your food shelf life study certificate of analysis states that your product is only good for 3 months, you count from the date your food was manufactured. Below are steps telling you how to get a food shelf life study.

Instructions

1. 

   Research various companies online. Call and speak to representatives. Search specifically to see if a company is located in your area. Doing this may save you some money, especially in shipping.

2. 

   Get referrals. Ask other people in the food business for referrals. Ask also if they were pleased with the company they used.

3. 

   Ask about the process. Ask questions which include:

   A.) How long is the food shelf life study?
   B.) How often will my product be tested during the process?
   C.) Will I receive a certificate of analysis after the test outlining the test results?

4. 

   Inquire about costs and the payment. Some questions to ask are:

   A.) When is payment due?
   B.) What forms of payment do you accept?

5. 

   Ship your product in a timely manner. This step is very important, especially if your product has to be refrigerated. Make sure that you follow the company's instructions on how they want the product shipped. Most often, it has to freshly made and shipped overnight.