AQUALAB Research Report | June 2026
This month, AQUALAB appeared less as a research citation and more as a key standard to hit before anything ships. A cured meat methods paper treated water activity as a variable that moved its analytical results. An industrial pet treat trial used it as the pass‑fail gate across three drying profiles. And a new global market study named AQUALAB the leading brand in the category.
In the literature
Researchers evaluating a modified extraction method for measuring residual nitrite in cured meats used an AQUALAB 4TE to set and confirm water activity across nine pilot‑scale fermented pepperoni recipes, formulated to target aw values of 0.91 and 0.94.
In the validation analysis, water activity emerged as one of the strongest formulation factors affecting how well each extraction method performed, even ahead of salt level. This is a useful reminder that aw does not only govern safety and shelf life; it also shapes how reliably you can measure everything else in the matrix.
Published 29 June in the Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization. Open access.
In the conversation
Outside the peer‑reviewed literature, AQUALAB appeared in industrial trial data, market analysis, and consumer coverage:
- Metalquimia published trial data from its QDS Bake system, running a single clean‑label pet treat formulation through three drying profiles: a 16‑hour low‑temperature raw run and two high‑temperature cycles. An AQUALAB Pre verified that each profile reached the 0.76 aw target. The counterintuitive result was that the hotter, faster cycle lost more yield to protein and fat bleed without doing more to bring water activity down.
- A Global Info Research market study published 5 June listed AQUALAB first among global water activity measurement manufacturers, put the top five suppliers at roughly 74% of 2024 market revenue, and described AQUALAB as leading the category on brand strength and product range, with particular strength in the North American premium segment.
- Zachary Cartwright, AQUALAB’s lead food scientist, was quoted in consumer coverage of nonstick cookware care, continuing a syndication run that has carried his food‑safety commentary across several markets since spring.
AQUALAB Research Report is a monthly roundup of notable citations, mentions, and technical references involving AQUALAB instruments and water activity science.
See something we missed? Send it our way for inclusion in a future installment.
Newsletter signup
Case studies, webinars, and articles you'll love.
Receive the latest content on a regular basis!