Knowledge Base

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The beginner’s guide to shelf life stability and packaging

Your product may exhibit some changes during shelf life, but the end of shelf life is defined as a point where the product is no longer acceptable to consumers. Learn about shelf life stability and packaging in this guide.

Cookies University: Cultivating Equity Through Education and Empowerment

The food manufacturer’s complete guide to water activity

The best way to understand water in your product is by learning about water activity (aw). Water activity is a measure for the amount of available water.

Beyond bars: Product innovation at Clif Bar & Company

Shaunti Luce is Senior Innovation and Technology Manager at Clif Bar & Company. Her role on the food safety and quality assurance team gives her unique insight into food safety, production processes and innovation at Clif.

Education guides

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Introduction to water activity (aw): The beginner's guide to water activity's role in food production

This complete guide helps you to understand the water in your product with water activity (aw). Learn why water activity measurements are so powerful.

The beginner's guide to measuring yield and waste in food manufacturing

Understanding and eliminating waste is a powerful way to boost profits – but where to start? Try exploring these seven common methods for waste reduction.

The food manufacturer's step-by-step guide to eradicate caking and clumping

Powders exposed to moisture take on water vapor, stop flowing, and manufacturing becomes a mess. These three simple steps will prevent caking and clumping.

The beginner’s guide to shelf life stability and packaging

Market insights

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Water activity in pharmaceutical applications

Water activity measures the energy status of water – and energy status is a better way to evaluate moisture-related reactions that damage pharmaceuticals.

Measuring moisture in cereal and grain-based products

Water activity — measured and managed correctly — maximizes quality and shelf life in bread, crackers, snacks, and other cereal or grain-based products.

Water activity in functional foods

Functional foods need a shelf life that guarantees both the safety and the effectiveness of the functional ingredient. Water activity can help.

Karl Fischer vs. water activity in pharmaceuticals

Karl Fischer titration measures moisture content in a sample. Water activity describes the energy status of the water. Studies say one is better.

Customer stories

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Beyond bars: Product innovation at Clif Bar & Company

Peaceful Fruits: Fast product development & positive mission

Ohio fruit snack company Peaceful Fruits is on a mission to provide healthy snacks, economic opportunity, and meaningful employment.

Mastering food science to make indigenous plants more accessible

Small farmers on Pacific Islands have difficulty competing in the global food industry, so the crops they harvest don’t usually make it to market – or at least they didn’t until Voyaging Foods came along.

How Simmons Foods found the sweet spot

Simmons Foods is one of North America’s largest producers of poultry, pet and animal nutrition products. We recently sat down with Rick Stoller, Process Improvement Manager at Simmons, to get his hard-won insights on managing moisture in pet food – and the significant impact it can have on their bottom line.

Expertise library

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What do DVS moisture sorption isotherms say about food stability?

Moisture sorption isotherms are a powerful tool for predicting and extending the shelf life of a product, displaying changes in water activity over time.

Moisture content vs water activity: Choosing the right measurement

Moisture content and water activity have to do with water, but the distinction isn’t always clear. Learn why to measure moisture content and water activity.

Measuring moisture content: It’s more complicated than you think

[Learn how] In theory, moisture content (MC) measurement is easy. Simply determine the amount of water in a product, and compare that to the weight.

Examining powder stability: Physical, chemical & microbial

Most people intuitively know what a powder is. They’re everywhere. We interact with them daily. But with so many different categories of powder – spices, ingredients, cosmetics, pharmaceutical excipients and APIs, and countless others – it can be tough to define and resolve specific issues.

Webinars

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How to Measure Water Activity In One Minute

AQUALAB’s lead food scientist and R&D lab manager discuss what makes 1-minute water activity readings possible – and if they’re truly dependable.

Market Snapshot: Natural Foods

We got 27 clean-label natural foods from the grocery store and ran them through a gauntlet of moisture tests. This is what we found.

Market Snapshot: Jerky. Rating the top brands

We tested the top 12 jerky brands to get insider insight into how their water activity levels, pH, moisture content, overpack and underpack ratings compare.

Examining Simplified Shelf Life Testing Methods

We conducted an experiment to examine shelf life testing and help you streamline your approach to identifying and tracking potential modes of failure.

Downloadable guides

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PDF | Explore the basics of water activity and its significance

Delve into the foundational concept of water activity and its critical role in food preservation and quality control. Understand why measuring water activity is essential for managing microbial susceptibility, preventing texture issues, and preserving product shelf life effectively.

PDF | Explore the step-by-step guide to water activity testing

Learn the essential steps and best practices for accurate water activity testing. From ensuring sample homogeneity to instrument readiness, this guide outlines a systematic approach to enhance testing reliability and efficiency in moisture analysis.

PDF | Harness the power of water activity to control microbial growth

Microorganisms rely on water for growth, but how can you control their proliferation in food products? Learn about the critical role of water activity, the key mechanism behind microbial dormancy, and how managing water activity can prevent harmful growth. Essential insights for food safety and quality, grounded in FDA and FSMA regulations.

PDF | Lab cleaning and maintenance checklist poster

Optimize your laboratory's performance with structured maintenance checklists. This resource provides daily, weekly, monthly, and bi-annual protocols to standardize operations and enhance experimental precision. Ideal for maintaining cleanliness and reliability in moisture analysis and beyond.

Knowledge base

The beginner’s guide to shelf life stability and packaging

The food manufacturer’s complete guide to water activity

Beyond bars: Product innovation at Clif Bar & Company

Introduction to water activity (aw): The beginner's guide to water activity's role in food production

The beginner's guide to measuring yield and waste in food manufacturing

The food manufacturer's step-by-step guide to eradicate caking and clumping

The beginner’s guide to shelf life stability and packaging

Water activity in pharmaceutical applications

Measuring moisture in cereal and grain-based products

Water activity in functional foods

Karl Fischer vs. water activity in pharmaceuticals

Beyond bars: Product innovation at Clif Bar & Company

Peaceful Fruits: Fast product development & positive mission

Mastering food science to make indigenous plants more accessible

How Simmons Foods found the sweet spot

What do DVS moisture sorption isotherms say about food stability?

Moisture content vs water activity: Choosing the right measurement

Measuring moisture content: It’s more complicated than you think

Examining powder stability: Physical, chemical & microbial

How to Measure Water Activity In One Minute

Market Snapshot: Natural Foods

Market Snapshot: Jerky. Rating the top brands

Examining Simplified Shelf Life Testing Methods

PDF | Explore the basics of water activity and its significance

PDF | Explore the step-by-step guide to water activity testing

PDF | Harness the power of water activity to control microbial growth

PDF | Lab cleaning and maintenance checklist poster

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