LATEST NEWS

We are pleased to inform you that in September 2009, Ashwood UK Ltd gained M&S Accreditation and is now a Marks & Spencers ISA approved laboratory. We have also registered for the forthcoming Tesco Approved Laboratory Scheme, which will be rolled out over 2010 in order to meet the needs of our customers supplying to the major retailers.

We are continuing to invest in new equipment and can now offer in-house Water Activity analysis for foodstuffs, which is one of the most influencial factors in determining the quality and safety of a food product. Water activity is a measure of the amount of unbound water that is 'free to react' and is an index of how readily microrganisms will be able to grow in any given product and how quickly the product is likely to deteriorate. In addition to water activity, we can also analyse for alkaline phosphatase in pasteurised milks.

We can also offer allergen & aflatoxin screening, for which we hope to gain UKAS accreditation for shortly.

Over the last few months, we have been compiling validation data for VIDAS methods for detection of Salmonella and Listeria. Both methods will provide a faster turnaround for pathogen analysis and we intend to aim for UKAS accreditation for these methods during our next UKAS assessment in the Spring of 2010.

If you require any further information on any of the above methods, please contact Diane Woodburn, Technical Manager.