Food, Agriculture & Environmental - Analysis & Testing
Alex Stewart Agriculture is a UKAS ISO/IEC 17025: 2005-accredited company providing world-class FOSFA, GAFTA and UKAS-approved testing and analysis services. It is supported by the A Norman Tate, Huson and Hardwick and Food Test Laboratories, serving clients involved in international trading of soft commodities including animal feed, oilseeds, oils and fats, biodiesel, grains and cereals, fertilisers, raw and refined sugar and food products.
Biomass inspection and analysis
Alex Stewart Agriculture provides the full range of FOSFA-approved inspection and analytical testing for biomass, biofuels and all related byproducts in accordance with international EN 14214 quality requirements.
In this fast-developing industry sector the extensive experience of our professional analysts and internationally accredited laboratories offer you critical advantages. Accurate biomass analysis, combined with fast, effective turnaround times, is assured.
Our procedures for biomass cover the full analytical spectrum for phosphate, fat content, oil, moisture, ash, gross calorific value, fibre and carbohydrates.
| Glycerine | M.O.N.G. |
| Glycerol | Rape meal: (Oil, moisture, protein ash). |
| Moisture (KF) | OSR & Oil: (Full analytical services). |
| Ash. |
Environmental – soil, air & water analysis
Our laboratories in Argentina, Norway, Peru and the UK provide environmental services to agricultural, food, construction, mining, petrochemical, recycling and waste-management businesses. Environmental analysis is supported by sampling, sample collection, e-certification, technical consultancy and friendly customer service. Lab-testing services include heavy metal, trace element testing, water testing and environmental analysis through our accredited laboratories.
| Potable water. | Sea and fresh water. |
| Bottled mineral water. | Swimming, jacuzzi and spa pools. |
| Processed wastewater. | Effluence and sewage water. |
| Landfill and soil. | Surface hygiene. |
Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury all contain toxic bioaccumulation. Lead contamination can be present in drinking water, mercury in food sources such as fish and seafood, trace metals can also be detected in fruits and vegetables, nuts and cereals, food products and sports nutrients. International regulatory bodies set maximum limits for lead, cadmium and mercury in food groups such as meat, fish, seafood, cereals, vegetables, fruits and products thereof, fats and oils, milk, baby food and infant formulae.
We test for metals in waters and food using traditional methods based on atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or state-of-the-art instrumentation through ICP-OES and ICP-MS techniques, which determine the lowest detection limits to analyse trace metal amounts in line with national regulations.
Some 240 analytical tests can be performed, including full metal analysis. Frequently requested tests include:
| Ammonia, nitrogen. | Chromium, total. | Phosphorous. |
| Bromine. | Colour. | Silica. |
| Chloride. | COD. | Sulphate. |
| Chlorine free. | Fluoride. | Sulphide. |
| Chlorine, total | Hardness | Surfactants |
| Chromium hexavalent. | PCB. | Suspended solids. |
| TOC. | Tannin. | Volatile Acids. |
Microbiological testing in soil and water
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa. | Coliforms presumptive/confirmation. |
Complete microbiological analysis:
| Escherichia coli presumptive/confirmation. | TVC @ 22ºC, 30ºC & 37ºC |
Fertiliser – GAFTA inspections and analysis
We provide GAFTA-approved fertiliser inspections and analysis in Argentina, the Baltic States, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, France, India, Italy, the Netherlands, North America, Peru, Scandinavia, Spain, the UK and all Ukrainian and Black Sea ports. Fast and accurate fertiliser analysis is carried out by experienced and highly qualified chemists using both classical and modern methodology:
| Kjeldahl method for nitrogen. | ICP for magnesium sulphate and potassium. |
| Gravimetric method for phosphates. | Biuret in urea by spectrophotometric method. |
Food – microbiological testing, chemical and nutritional analysis
Food Test Lab is an independent, UKAS-approved microbiological, chemical and nutritional food testing laboratory. Food Test Lab provides ISO 17025-accredited microbiological, chemistry and nutritional analysis services for your foodstuffs, which is essential for detailed nutritional information for food labelling. Our accredited analytical services enable you to meet food labelling and safety regulations, achieve best practice and, above all, satisfy your consumers.
Trace metal detection and heavy metal testing
Food Test Lab provides heavy metal, trace element testing, water testing and environmental analysis through Alex Stewart Agriculture and Alex Stewart Food Testing accredited laboratories.
Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury all contain toxic bioaccumulation. Lead contamination can be present in drinking water, mercury in food sources such as fish and seafood, trace metals can also be detected in fruits and vegetables, nuts and cereals, food products and sports nutrients. International regulatory bodies set maximum limits for lead, cadmium and mercury in meat, fish, seafood, cereals, vegetables, fruits and products thereof, fats and oils, milk, baby food and infant formulae.
We also test for metals in waters and food using traditional methods based on atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or state-of-the-art instrumentation through ICP-OES and ICP-MS techniques, which determine the lowest detection limits to analyse trace metal amounts in line with national regulations.
- To view our company brochure click here
- For further information about our UK Food Testing Laboratory email laboratory@alexstewartagriculture.com or visit: foodtestlab.co.uk.
- For further information about our Food Testing Laboratory in China visit: alexstewartagriculture.com.cn
Our ISO 17025 fully accredited food testing laboratories in the UK carry out the most accurate time-focused microbiological testing and food analysis including:
| Moisture. | Fats and fatty acids. |
| Proteins. | Starch. |
| Sodium. | Fibre and ash. |
| Energy value. | Peroxide value. |
| Salt. | Salmonella spp. |
| Group I and Group II nutritional analysis. | Listeria. |
| Dietary fibre. | E-coli. |
| Fats and Oils. | Bacillus cereus. |
| Mono-unsaturates. | Staphylococcus aureus. |
| Poly-unsaturates. | Enterobacteriaceae. |
| Carbohydrates. | Coliforms. |
| Sugars. | Streptococcus. |
| Calorific value. | Clostridium perfringens. |
Grains – GAFTA Analyst and Superintendent
Through Alex Stewart Agriculture and Huson and Hardwick Laboratories, which are cargo superintendents and a long-standing analyst member of the Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), we work closely with many of the world’s leading grain traders to provide independent monitoring, testing, technical inspection and consultancy, in full compliance with GAFTA 124 sampling procedures.
We can also arrange logistical and fumigation services, to ensure that cargoes are transported in the correct and approved condition. Additionally, in Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia and Uruguay, our technically qualified inspectors provide collateral management agreements (CMAs), including crop monitoring, storage supervision for grains, feed, fertiliser and sugar, maintaining full control and supervision of transportation between storage facilities, loading and discharge supervision and certifying quantity and quality of customers’ imported and exported agricultural commodities.
Technical consultancy services are another speciality area for Alex Stewart Agriculture. Our strategically and commercially located operational offices offer support and advice on ports and silos, while providing informative interpretation of the latest industry standards concerning the sampling and analysis of grains and cereals and transportation in the approved/correct condition.
Grains, wheat, barley, maize, oats and soybean analysed and certified for quality include the following tests:
| Moisture. | Aflatoxins. |
| Protein or nitrogen. | Admixture. |
| Specific weight. | Hectolitre weight. |
| Hagberg falling number. | Radiation tests. |
| Infestation. | GMO tests. |
Oils, fats and oilseeds – FOSFA Analyst and Superintendent
Alex Stewart International is an established and internationally recognised superintendent member of the Federation of Oils Seeds and Fats Associations (FOSFA), the Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia (PORAM) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
| Groundnut oil. | Cottonseed oil. | Sunflower Oil. |
| Rapeseed oil. | Olive oil. | Linseed. |
| Soybean oil. | Tallow. | Corn oil. |
| Palm oil. | Rapeseed. | Palm kernel oil. |
| Lard. | Glycerine. | Sunflower seed. |
| Coconut oil. | Walnut. | Sheanut. |
| Fish oil. | Copra. |
Our FOSFA and ISO accredited oils, fats and oilseeds laboratories are strategically located in Argentina, Brazil, India, Peru, Ukraine and the UK (A Norman Tate and Co Ltd) to provide fast, accurate results and a comprehensive range of analytical services to the industry. Tests include:
| Moisture. | Free fatty acids. | Density. |
| Impurities. | Unsaponifiable matter. | Metal trace elements. |
| Lovibond colour. | Volatile matter. | Flashpoint. |
Rice – GAFTA Analysts and Superintendents
We’re very well established in the analysis and inspection of rice shipments. We provide the complete service portfolio, including pre-shipment inspection, supervision of loading and discharge, sampling, weight control and tallying to analysis in our GAFTA-approved laboratories.
Our laboratories in Argentina, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Norway, Peru, Thailand and the UK are equipped with the latest instrumentation, from precision balances to gas chromatographs and polarimeters.
| Moisture. | Foreign matter. | Test weight. |
| Protein. | Broken/chalky. | Infestation. |
| Starch. | Specific weight. | Milling quality. |
| Palm oil. | Yellow/damaged. |
Sugar – London Sugar Associate
We provide a full range of CMA, inspection and analytical services to the sugar industry. Refined, raw, bulk, bagged and liquid sugars are all successfully analysed with our characteristic speed and precision.
Dedicated sugar laboratories in Brazil, Malaysia, Peru and the UK enable us to provide a fast, reliable and accurate service to the international sugar trade. Our well-equipped laboratories are members of the Sugar Association of London (SAL) and participate in quarterly round-robin analytical exercises, to ensure a consistently high-quality service, while maintaining the rapid turnarounds the international trade requires. Our analytical services include:
| Colour. | Polarization. |
| Moisture. | Ash. |
Our Business
Our Locations
A Global Network
- ASI Inspections, Loads and Discharge Operations
- ASI Laboratory, Sample Preparation and Customer Services
- ASI Government Business Head Quarters
