Chemical
Analyses
Safe products, legally compliant labeling, reliable laboratory results. We offer qualitative and quantitative analyses for the testing of raw materials, food, feed, agrochemicals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Whether food, dietary supplements, animal feed, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals, chemical analysis is the foundation for marketability, safety, and legally compliant labeling.
The laboratories of the Tentamus Group support manufacturers and retailers throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material testing to final market readiness assessment. The results of these analyses help verify a product’s marketability and serve as the basis for labeling and packaging. Additionally, we develop customized testing plans based on the results to ensure continuous quality assurance of your products.
We are happy to advise you on individual analyses and testing plans that guide you confidently through national and international requirements.
Service overview
of our chemical analysis laboratories
The Tentamus Group laboratory network offers qualitative and quantitative analyses of ingredients, composition, and product-specific parameters, tailored to the product type, target market, and regulatory requirements.
Typical testing services include:
- Identification and quantification of ingredients (qualitative & quantitative)
- Nutritional analyses for food labeling
- Feed analyses according to Weender standards
- Assessment of general marketability
- QUID testing (quantitative ingredient declarations)
- Product-specific special analyses depending on the product category
- Support with labeling and packaging compliance
Which products require chemical analysis?
Food and Dietary Supplements
Food and dietary supplements are subject to strict regulations and labeling requirements. In addition, consumer interest in traceability, product origin, and animal welfare during production is steadily increasing. We offer a wide range of analyses that provide consumers with transparency about the product, helping to prevent recalls and protect brand reputation.
This includes nutritional analyses in accordance with the EU Food Information Regulation (LMIV). Beyond energy content, this covers the declaration of total fat, saturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, sugar, protein, and salt. Additional analyses can determine vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
Our extensive expertise and global network of laboratories allow us to perform reliable analyses on a broad spectrum of food products, including high-fat items such as edible fats, oils, oilseeds, nuts, as well as meat, dairy products, baked goods, and many more.
Nutritional analyses conducted by the Tentamus Group laboratories include:
- Big 4: Covers the basic nutrients – energy (calories), fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
- Big 7: Expands Big 4 to include sugar, saturated fatty acids, and salt.
- Big 8: Adds dietary fiber to the Big 7.
- Fats: Saturated fats (solid at room temperature) and unsaturated fats (liquid at room temperature) are analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
- Fatty acid profile: Shows the composition of a product’s fat content, divided into saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- Protein: Determined via the amino acid content using the Kjeldahl method, which quantifies the nitrogen in the substance.
- Sugar: Measured using Benedict’s solution to detect simple sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose).
- Dietary fiber: Analyzed using an enzymatic-gravimetric method that simulates human small intestine digestion, measuring both soluble and insoluble fibers.
- Minerals and vitamins: Determined through various methods, along with the detection of allergens and heavy metals if required.
The marketability of products is assessed as part of these procedures. We are happy to advise you on a tailored testing plan for your products.
Chemical analyses of
animal feed
To ensure the health of humans and animals in the food chain, animal feed analyses are carried out. We offer analyses in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 767/2009, which governs the marketing and use of feed, including testing methods according to Weender and FEDIAF standards.
The Weender feed analysis, also known as proximate analysis, is a quantitative method used to determine the macronutrient content of a feed. This analysis measures polymers such as ash (potassium, sodium, iron, calcium, etc.), crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract (digestible carbohydrates) through chemical reactions. The carbohydrate content is then calculated based on these five components. Moisture content is also determined.
The FEDIAF guideline (European Pet Food Industry Federation) focuses on the safety of pet food. It is based on 31 EU regulations that ensure the quality and safety of pet food products.
Chemical analysis of
cosmetic products
The Tentamus Group offers a wide range of chemical analyses for cosmetics and raw materials. These tests ensure the safety and harmlessness of your products and help meet the requirements of EU Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 (EU Cosmetics Regulation).
Analyses of both raw materials and the final product are also necessary when preparing a product safety report.
The following parameters can be tested:
- Active ingredients
- Glycerin
- Panthenol, Tocopherol, Bisabolol
- Coenzyme Q10
- Regulated and declaration-required substances
- Preservatives, fragrances, UV filters
- pH value
- Viscosity
- Water activity (aW value)
- Density
- Fat-related parameters (acid value, peroxide value, saponification value, fatty acid profile, etc.)
We also conduct stability tests to predict the shelf life of a product. Information on stability and shelf life is required for the preparation of a safety report. Products are stored at different temperatures over several months, and quality is assessed before and after storage based on selected parameters. Sensory quality (appearance, smell, consistency) and potential changes to packaging are also carefully evaluated.
Chemical analyses of
pharmaceuticals
In the GMP-certified laboratories of the Tentamus Group, pharmaceuticals and medical devices are tested in accordance with legal requirements. Our laboratories perform analyses according to national and international pharmacopoeias, including DAB, DAC, HAB, Ph. Eur., USP, BP, and JP.
Using state-of-the-art analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, HPLC-MS, GC-MS, and NMR, our experts analyze not only raw materials, active ingredients, and sterile and non-sterile pharmaceuticals but also highly regulated products such as narcotics and cytostatics.
In addition to standardized pharmacopoeial methods, we also develop and validate new methods tailored to your specific requirements. Please contact us if you need support with method development.
Chemical Analysis for Labeling Testing
Labeling compliance tests ensure adherence to all applicable local and international regulations and guidelines. In recent years, requirements for labeling food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics have increased significantly, not least due to growing consumer awareness of issues such as animal welfare and sustainability. Comprehensive labeling tests help provide consumers with transparency about the product while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Our range of methods
The Tentamus Group offers a wide range of chemical and physico-chemical analyses. Our chemical analysis methods include:
- Chromatographic Methods: Separate a mixture into its individual components, allowing the isolation and purification of a single ingredient for subsequent chemical testing.
- Mass Spectrometry: Identifies trace molecules in food, pharmaceuticals, or cosmetics using a mass spectrometer. This can include allergens, heavy metals, contaminants, or pesticide residues. During this process, ionization occurs, breaking the product into its individual components for measurement.
- Spectral Analysis: Determines the amounts of contaminants or impurities present
- X-ray Fluorescence Analysis (XRF): Detects trace elements in food, uncovers food fraud, and assesses nutrient content.
- FTIR Spectroscopy (Fourier-Transform Infrared Analysis): Examines food for anomalies by comparing a sample to a reference. For example, when testing milk, deviations from normal milk are detected, prompting further investigation to identify the cause.
- Thermogravimetric Analysis: Samples are placed in a heat chamber, and weight changes are monitored at increasing temperatures. This assesses material stability and moisture loss under different thermal conditions, with heat accelerating chemical dehydration reactions.
- Titrimetric Analysis: Determines the amount of a reactant in a sample and can be used to measure vitamin or mineral concentrations that affect food color.
- Enzymatic Analysis: Measures compounds such as sugars, acids, alcohols, and other metabolites in food.
- Preparative-Gravimetric Analysis: Methods such as sieve analysis determine the structure of powders. A sample is sieved through wire mesh, separating it into different particle size ranges.
What is the process of
sampling for chemical analysis?
To ensure the accuracy of testing, samples are collected according to recognized random and quality procedures. Different product batches are always considered to guarantee test precision and consistent results.
We therefore offer a pick-up service for product samples to ensure random selection and proper storage during transport. Of course, customers may also send samples themselves. In this case, the customer is responsible for representative sampling and appropriate transport of the samples.
Please contact our logistics team at:logistics@tentamus.com
+49 30 206 038 395
Compliance with legal requirements
Our analyses always take into account the applicable legal frameworks, including:
- EU Food Information Regulation (LMIV) No. 1169/2011
- Health Claims Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006
- Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
- EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009
- Regulation (EU) 2018/775 on the indication of primary ingredients or origin
- Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 on organic production and labeling of products
- Feed legislation and FEDIAF guidelines
- National and international pharmacopoeias
When you commission the Tentamus Group, you receive not only precise analytical results but also a clear assessment of your product’s marketability, as well as guidance and support to ensure compliance with international regulations and labeling requirements.
Additional services
beyond the usual tests
For any questions – for example, regarding current product requirements or test results – we are happy to provide information and guidance. Thanks to our extensive experience within the product group, trusted by many well-known clients, we can also advise you on specialized or technical issues if needed.
If timely analyses are essential for your commissioned testing, our validated rapid testing methods allow us to determine relevant parameters at short notice.
Being close to you as a customer is our top priority, and we are always open to new questions and challenges.
hello@tentamus.com +49 30 20 60 38 230
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How do chemical analyses help determine a product's marketability?
Chemical analyses provide a crucial basis for reliably determining labeling-relevant values and ensuring regulatory compliance. They help companies substantiate declarations and assess a product’s marketability in a more informed and professional manner.
Can the scope of testing be tailored to my product?
Yes. The specific scope of testing depends on the product type, target market, and the question at hand. Based on this, individual test plans can be developed that are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the product.
What role do chemical analyses play in labeling and compliance?
Chemical analyses are a vital foundation for reliably determining labeling-relevant values and ensuring regulatory compliance. They help companies substantiate declarations and assess a product’s marketability more thoroughly.
Are chemical analyses suitable for special product requirements?
Yes. In addition to standard tests, chemical analyses are particularly useful when product-specific requirements, special ingredients, or individual quality parameters need to be examined. This is especially relevant when a standard program is insufficient and a targeted analysis for a specific product is necessary.
Why choose Tentamus for chemical analyses?
Tentamus combines modern analytical techniques with a broad range of methods and extensive experience in testing diverse product groups. Companies benefit not only from precise chemical analyses but also from personalized guidance in selecting suitable test parameters and plans. This allows chemical testing to be tailored specifically to the product, the question, and regulatory requirements.
Overview of
laboratories for chemical analyses of the Tentamus Group
The following laboratories from the Tentamus Group offer chemical analyses: