Technical Testing Parameters
The following parameters describe product-specific testing considerations. Test availability, method suitability and accredited coverage are confirmed against the sample and specification before quotation.
- Composition: moisture; fat; protein; total sugars; acidity; water activity; acid/peroxide value in extracted frying fat where relevant.
- Microbiology: aerobic colony count; coliforms/Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus; Salmonella spp.; yeast and mould; Bacillus cereus for relevant cereal products, selected against base-product criteria.
- Contaminants: Aflatoxin M1 in relevant dairy matrices; Aflatoxin B1/total aflatoxins in nuts; deoxynivalenol for applicable grain inputs; relevant lead, arsenic and pesticide residues.
- Identity and formulation: vegetable-fat substitution in dairy sweets where relevant; permitted synthetic colours; high-intensity sweeteners where used; selected allergens; silver-leaf identity/purity only under a separately suitable confirmed method.
Select the applicable subset; these are not universal mandatory tests or a statement that every listed test is within the laboratory’s accredited scope.
Regulatory Standards & Compliance
Product mapping: FSSAI direction on Indian sweets and snacks dated 20 July 2021 and its applicable clarification; relevant base-product standards and Appendix B; confirm current direction/amendment status.
Read the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 as amended, together with the product-specific criteria. Apply the current Contaminants, Toxins and Residues Regulations, 2011 and Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 where relevant.
For microbiology, identify the applicable Appendix B table, sampling plan and test portion. For additives, confirm the correct Appendix A classification and any product-specific restrictions. FoSCoS licensing identifiers are not equivalent to product-standard clauses.
Export limits depend on the destination, commodity and residue definition. Confirm the applicable MRL, reporting limit and effective date. BIS product standards, export certification and laboratory recognition require separate verification; a test report does not itself confer regulatory approval.
Sample Requirements & TAT
Chill milk-based sweets at 2–8°C; keep dry namkeen sealed; identify dairy, cereal, nut and fruit ingredients.
Confirm the required quantity, number of unopened units, containers and transport conditions with the laboratory before dispatch. Chemistry portions and sterile microbiology portions may need separate containers; a composite cannot automatically replace an n-unit sampling plan.
Provide the product designation, ingredient list, processing state, batch identity, storage instructions, target market and required specification. Turnaround is confirmed in the quotation after the scope is agreed. Shelf-life, challenge and specialist investigations require a separate study schedule.
Technical FAQs
Does licensing classification 18 create one universal mithai standard?
No. Map the recipe and applicable direction to the underlying standard, additive permissions and microbiological requirements.
Should milk sweets and dry namkeen share a shelf-life specification?
No. Their water activity, processing and storage risks differ materially.
Does an ingredient certificate remove the need for finished-product testing?
Not automatically. Assess supplier control, processing effects, product risks and the applicable release specification.
Discuss your testing specification
Share the product, market and required parameters so the laboratory can confirm the scope.