AGQ Labs USA

Acrylamide is a substance that can form in many ways, but one of them is quite common: when foods are cooked or processed at temperatures higher than 248°F.

Studies in animals have confirmed the carcinogenic effects of this chemical compound, which forms during the heating process of certain foods at temperatures higher than 248°F. It is found in commonly consumed products, such as french fries, coffee, and baby cereals. Labels do not state acrylamide concentrations.

What processed foods have acrylamide?

Of all foods found on supermarket shelves, the ones with the highest concentrations are:
• Fried potatoes.
• Bread and croutons.
• Coffee.
• Breakfast cereals, as well as snacks, biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries, cookies, and crackers.
• Baby food, such as jarred baby foods and others with a cereal base.

Although the presence of acrylamide in these foods is low, it is found in much higher doses in tobacco, and also results from industrial processes in the production of plastics, ink, and in the paper industry.

Society has to adapt to living with components such as acrylamide. It is not possible to eliminate these components 100%, so the key is to maintain a healthy, varied diet, where in addition to tempting fried potatoes, rolls, and coffee, one’s diet is balanced with other products such as fruits, vegetables, and fresh produce, as well as dried fruits and eggs.

Acrylamide in Prop 65

Acrylamide is included on the Prop 65 list of chemicals that California recognizes as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity (such as birth defects and other reproductive harm). It was added to the Prop 65 list in 1990 because studies showed it to produce cancer in laboratory rats and mice. In February 2011, acrylamide was added to the Prop 65 list as causing reproductive and development effects because, in studies of laboratory animals, acrylamide affected the growth of offspring exposed in the womb and caused genetic damage, resulting in the death of mouse and rat embryos.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other scientific and health organizations continue studying the health effects of acrylamide in food. The FDA has not advised people at this time to stop eating products that contain acrylamide but does advise people to stop smoking.

AGQ Labs can test the levels of Acrylamide in your food. Please request a quote for more information.

AGQ Labs develops a state-of-the-art analysis of the Cell Wall Calcium fraction in fruit, a good tool for diagnosing alterations in pre- and post-harvest quality.

Cell Wall Calcium is a diagnostic tool for evaluating quality parameters related to the appearance and market life of the product. And in certain matrices, total calcium, with quantification limits adapted to the fruit, is also a very reliable marker for assessing a number of concrete alterations.

AGQ Labs has been analyzing the active ingredient glyphosate for years, both in foods and in drinking water. The technique utilized is Liquid Chromatography Tandem-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), which is unquestionably today’s state-of-the-art instrumentation for this type of analysis.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorizes glyphosate as a product that is “slightly toxic” for humans and birds and “practically nontoxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates and honeybees.” Despite this EPA classification at the federal level, the State of California, has listed glyphosate under Proposition 65 as a carcinogen. Prop. 65 is the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, approved by the California electorate.

Faster, maximum-precision analyses of agricultural soils

At AGQ Labs we are experts in plant nutrition and analysis of agricultural soil. Given how important it is for any agricultural management program to correctly analyze agricultural soils,we have developed Soil Factory Lab, a new approach to laboratory analysis for agricultural soils. Our high-tech equipment and production design allows us to offer the best response times and the most competitive pricing on the market.

Soil Factory Lab combines our extensive experience and training in agricultural soil analysis with the most advanced laboratory equipment for total automation of the analytical processes needed. This state-of-the-art technology allows us to maintain an exceptionally fast production pace, while ensuring quality and precision of the data obtained.

Soil Factory Lab is unquestionably the market’s most expeditious and competitive analysis laboratory for agricultural soils internationally. Our response times and the top quality of the results make this laboratory an agricultural producer’s perfect, most useful tool for all types of crops anywhere in the world.

Determine fertility with our agricultural soil analysis

Both intensive crop growers and those with large, extensive crop areas have an indispensable tool at Soil Factory Lab to regularly test and determine the fertility of their soils. With our agricultural soil analysis they can adapt and optimize fertilizer use to make the necessary corrections, achieve greater productivity, and ensure environmental sustainability.

• Unbeatable response times
  
• More competitive pricing
  
• Total quality of the data
  

We also offer the possibility of visually representing the results obtained. Our GIS nutritional maps offer georeferenced information on the availability of nutrients in the soil, and our NDVI maps indicate photosynthesis activity with information on the plant’s vegetation and nutritional status.

At AGQ Labs we have designed more than 20 analytical packages with parameter combinations tailored to the specific needs of each agricultural producer and each crop.

Using state-of-the-art analytical equipment, AGQ Labs USA performs pesticide residue analysis quickly and accurately in our Oxnard, CA facility. Included in the cost of service is access to our team of food safety experts and lab managers who have many years of experience interpreting pesticide residue results and addressing issues that can occur.

Our pesticide residue analysis service includes the following:

• Speed- Standard 24-48 hour turnaround time.
  
• User friendly reports that list positives on the first page with MRLs for up to 10 countries.
  
• Comprehensive standard screen that covers over 400 pesticides all with 0.01 mg/kg (ppm) limits of quantitation (LOQ).
  
• Cost Efficiency- Compared to other labs, AGQ Labs' pesticide residue screens mitigate nearly double the risk as other screens at a lower price.
  

From annual samples for certification purposes to routine samples for export compliance, AGQ Labs USA is the best choice laboratory for pesticide residue analysis.

With Crop Nutritional Monitoring (CNM) system AGQ Labs has been monitoring and evaluating the chemical needs of crops for over 20 years and we have helped clients around the world increase crop production, improve product quality and size, optimize fertilizer and water usage, control salinity and establish zero pesticide leaching methods.

AGQ Labs continuously evaluates what the crop needs at all times. Throughout the campaign, we monitor the water and nutrient uptake of the crop and advise our clients on how to adjust their irrigation and fertilizers to the optimal level. This type of control also allows AGQ Labs' clients to follow sustainable agricultural practice because leaching is minimized. The result is:

Minimizing environmental impact
Optimization of fertigation
Higher quality product
Significant cost savings in fertilizers
Increased productivity and performance
AGQ Labs has developed an internal proprietary procedure for crop nutritional monitoring and control that is based on the analysis of soil solutions that are extracted by AGQ Labs' patented suction lysimeter probes. AGQ Labs' Crop Nutritional Monitoring Program is based on the comprehensive control of the Soil-Plant-Water system.

AGQ Labs' quality seal certifies farms are using sustainable agricultural practices that guarantees the farm is using fertilizers, water, and pesticides efficiently and minimizing their impact on the environment.

Our warranty is based on the know-how accumulated by AGQ Labs during the past 20 years around the globe. At this time, AGQ Labs has reached optimal reference curves for all the main crops. Our agronomists from around the world, experts in the interpretation of this information, provide full value in irrigation and plant nutrition issues to AGQ Labs' clients.

AGQ Labs currently provides consultancy for over 1.5 million acres of crops including but not limited to citrus, fruit trees, table grapes, olives, avocados, berries, sugar cane, energy crops, coffee, horticultural crops, and rice.

Heavy Metal Analysis

Analysis of heavy metals in food and water

Arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead are the main heavy metals that are closely monitored by food manufacturers and producers due to their toxicity. These heavy metals can end up in a food for several reasons and heavy metals food testing is the only way to ensure that your products are within normal ranges and meet regulatory requirements.

The U.S. FDA has set a limited number of action levels for heavy metals in food products. Action levels have been set for arsenic in apple juice and rice cereals for infants, as well as for lead in candy likely to be consumed frequently by small children. Additionally, action levels have been set for cadmium and lead in pottery ceramics and silver-plated hollowware. The FDA has also taken actions and refused entry of certain imports into the U.S. due to heavy metals. These food products include:

Bottled Water- Arsenic
Dietary Supplements- Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury and/or Lead
Ceramic ware- Cadmium and/or Lead
Preserved Duck Eggs- Lead
Dried Fruits- Lead
Turmeric- Lead
Mandarin Orange Float Drink- Lead
Candy- Lead
Chili Containing Granular Seasonings/Snack Foods- Lead

Our heavy metal testing services include access to AGQ Labs' knowledgeable food safety team who are experts in the different heavy metal regulations around the U.S. and the world. Our heavy metal analysis service has a standard 3-5 day turnaround time that makes AGQ Labs' heavy metal testing service one of the fastest in the U.S.

AGQ Labs USA uses an ICP-MS to test water and food products and an ICP-OES to test soils, vegetation, and food additives for heavy metals. AGQ Labs USA's ICP-MS allows us to detect heavy metals at ultra-low levels to help ensure you comply with Prop 65.

A diagnostic of the plant tissue, irrigation water, and soil or substrate will permit us to relate the plant´s nutritional state with the best dosage of fertilizer. This lets us help customers optimize the process of cultivating a crop within a specific climate condition.

It is important to know:

• Quality of irrigation water
  
• Concentration and optimum ratios of nutrients in fertilization solutions
  
• Choice of the most appropriate fertilizers
  
• Stability and compatibility of fertilizers and concentrated solutions at central irrigation station
  
• Interaction between salts in the irrigation water and fertilization solutions
  
• Fertilization according to crop and substrate
  
• Frequency and intensity of irrigation and washing
  
• Nutritional diagnostics
  
• Interaction between fertilization solution and substrate
  

What to analyze?

• Irrigation water
  
• Fertilization solutions
  
• Soil solutions
  
• Drainage solutions (hydroponics)
  
• Vegetable tissue (leaves, sap, fruits)
  
• Fertilizers
  
• Manure and compost
  
• Agricultural influents and effluents
  

Interpretation of analyses

In addition to the reliability of the data from our analyses, carried out with the most advanced technologies and pursuant to our international accreditation, our data has the added value of one of our most important competencies: the agronomic interpretation of the results. All of our results are reported with these interpretations, in a very visual and graphic way. Furthermore, our agronomy department can also provide more specific consultation and help in carrying out fertilization plans.

AGQ Labs provides full-service FDA detentions support: sampling, analysis, oversight and packet submission.

Quickest response time!
Sampling in accordance with FDA protocols
Fully accredited ISO/IEC 17025:2005 laboratory
Real-time monitoring of the results (via BeSafer)
The capability of performing analysis for over 500 pesticides and other contaminants.
Partnered with a lab to perform microbiological services for FDA detentions.
Final Report to FDA

What are FDA Detentions?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures imported food products meet U.S. regulatory standards. Whenever the FDA detects an unapproved chemical on a commodity, a residue exceeding the maximum residue limit, or other health hazards, the FDA deems the product to be adulterated and refuses entry into the United States. When this occurs, the supplier/product combination will be put on FDA Import Alerts and all future shipments from this supplier and product combination will be automatically detained without physical examination (DWPE). This means the FDA will refuse entry without even testing the shipment. In order for future shipments to be cleared by the FDA, a 3rd party laboratory must sample and test for the issue that put the firm and product on DWPE. The 3rd party laboratory submits their findings to the FDA and the FDA compliance officer determines if the shipment can be released.

Why AGQ Labs?

AGQ Labs provides a premier service to our customers walking them through every step of the process. From the "Notice of Action" issued by the FDA to monitor the release of the shipment on the FDA Import Trade Auxiliary Communications System (ITACS), AGQ Labs is here to help our customers. At AGQ Labs, we understand that getting the shipment cleared as fast as possible is critical for our customers to avoid additional storage costs. This is why we strive to always submit packets prior to the first respond by date on the FDA notice of action. Unlike other labs that are only located in the U.S., AGQ Labs is an international network of laboratories that has the ability to come up with a sampling plan at origin to help ensure that shipments arriving in the U.S. are free from the contaminate that caused the issue.

A diagnostic of the plant tissue, irrigation water, and soil or substrate will permit us to relate the plant´s nutritional state with the best dosage of fertilizer. This lets us help customers optimize the process of cultivating a crop within a specific climate condition.

It is important to know:

• Quality of irrigation water
  
• Concentration and optimum ratios of nutrients in fertilization solutions
  
• Choice of the most appropriate fertilizers
  
• Stability and compatibility of fertilizers and concentrated solutions at central irrigation station
  
• Interaction between salts in the irrigation water and fertilization solutions
  
• Fertilization according to crop and substrate
  
• Frequency and intensity of irrigation and washing
  
• Nutritional diagnostics
  
• Interaction between fertilization solution and substrate
  

What to analyze?

• Irrigation water
  
• Fertilization solutions
  
• Soil solutions
  
• Drainage solutions (hydroponics)
  
• Vegetable tissue (leaves, sap, fruits)
  
• Fertilizers
  
• Manure and compost
  
• Agricultural influents and effluents
  

Interpretation of analyses

In addition to the reliability of the data from our analyses, carried out with the most advanced technologies and pursuant to our international accreditation, our data has the added value of one of our most important competencies: the agronomic interpretation of the results. All of our results are reported with these interpretations, in a very visual and graphic way. Furthermore, our agronomy department can also provide more specific consultation and help in carrying out fertilization plans.

AGQ Labs USA offers analytical testing and consultant services to the food industry for Prop 65 compliance.

Our services include:

Risk Analysis to identify potential chemicals
Exposure Assessments
Heavy Metal Testing
Pesticide Testing
Analytical Packages for Legal Support

The food industry is full of different regulatory and industry requirements to demonstrate that food products are safe and of high quality. To do this, companies must partner with a food testing lab with the most advanced techniques, accredited at the highest international level, and staffed with experts that are able to offer unique solutions to improve processes in product conservation and regulatory compliance.

Agricultural Discovery & Development Services

Analytical Chemistry Services

Agricultural Toxicity Tests Services

Agricultural Testing Services

Environmental & Geological Sciences Services

Field Studies & Operations Services

Agriscience Services

Product Development & Testing Services

Terrestrial Toxicity Testing Services

Ecotoxicity Testing Services

Auditing and Compliance Support Services

Regulatory Affairs Services

Environmental Services

Spectrophotometry Services

Atomic Emission Spectroscopy Services

Other Mass Spectrometry Methods Services

Liquid Chromatography Coupled Mass Spectrometry Methods Services

Mass Spectrometry Services

Spectroscopy Services

Imaging & Spectroscopy Services