Food Analysis...
Food samples are analysed for a number of different reasons within the food industry, however the most common ones when falling under the animal nutrition category usually including finding out the safety of a particle food and/or the nutritional content (Data analysis, 2015).
Methods which can be used for food analysis
There are several methods available for food analysis these are seperated into two categories; Basic methods and specialised methods.
Basic methods include;
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Dry matter
This method is used to calcualte the dry conent within a particular feed. Once you have formulated the dry matter, it also formulates the moisture content for you.
An example of this would be:
80% dry matter, meaning that feed would have 20% moisture.
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Proximate analysis
A Proximate Test is used to identify how much of: Glucose, Starch, Protein, Fat, and Vitamin C is potenially present within food products. To do this the is various chemicals needed to perfom this, each representing a different colour and will offer a distictive reaction when placed within a food sample.
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Ash testing
An Ash Test is used to measure the mineral content that is allocted within a feed. Minerals are the only nutrient that are inorganic and are the only edible content which remains after being burnt.
Specialised methods include;
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Bomb calorimetry (looking at the energy reaction)
The Bomb Calorimetry consists primarily of the sample, oxygen, stainless steel bomb and water. This method is used to determine the enthalpy combustion (Bomb Calorimetry, 2016).
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Amino acid analysis
The Amino Acid Analysis is the suitable tool and test for precise determination of protein quantities. It also provides detailed information regarding the relative amino acid composition and free amino acids (Amino acid analysis, 2015)
Other specialised methods include;
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Atomic absorption spectrophotometry
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Chromatography
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Automated analytical equipment
How to analysis nutrients from a basic food sample...
To analyse a basic feed sample from pet food it is important that the appropriate equipment is used in conjuction with the samples and the appropriate test. For each of the three analysises, Dry matter, Ash and Proximate have been carried out. The equipment needed for these are as follows;
Dry Matter analysis and required equipment;
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A food sample
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Suitable mositure oven
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Heat proof dish
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Heat proof mat
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Tongs
Proximate analysis and required equipment;
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A food sample
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Bunsen burner
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Heat proof dish
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Heat proof mat
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Tongs
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Tripod
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Large glass container
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Test tube rack
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Several test tubes
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Necessary solutions: Biuret, Ethanol, Iodine,
Benedicts Reagant and Dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP)
Ash test and required equipment;
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A food sample
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Crucible (content dish)
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Heat proof dish
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Heat proof mat
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Tongs
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Tripod
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
(Briggs, 2016)
(Briggs, 2016)
The overall results of the analysis tests provided information with regards to Wait Wrights Diet food - this had more presence of fat in than the non diet WaitWrights. which became as a surprise, however the intake of Vtamin c was much more higher. Therefore this shows that results for other nutrients other than fat was fairly high.
To critically analyse the results the fat result can implicate that it is higher due to energy reasons - forcing the diet dog to push forward more frequently energy therefore the fat has now become invisible as it has been burned away.