EXTRANEOUS MATTER ANALYSIS

Market Survey: SPICES - Ground Black Pepper
from March 2002

Five brands are analyzed representing three national companies and one major supermarket brand.
They are
Tone's
McCormick
Durkee
Stop & Shop
McCormick - Gourmet

Results on 50 gram sample using AOAC extraction procedures:
 
 
Sample 1

 6 scale insects
1 feather barbule
 
Sample 2

 11 insect fragments (scale insects)
5 insect fragments (greater than 5mm in size)
1 whole insect (ant head)
1 rodent hair (5mm)
 
Sample 3

 4 insect fragments
 
Sample 4

 4 insect fragments
 
Sample 5

 12 insect fragments
5 rodent hairs (0.5mm or less)
no code on product
 

Opinion:
Two of the brands (Samples 2 and 5) show evidence of rodent contamination.
Central Hudson Lab does private contract work.


For a complete list of the FDA's Defect Action Levels for food
products, please visit FDA-CFSAN Defect Action Level Handbook.

Send comments to
 
 

 
 
HOME      ABOUT CHL      CLIENT LIST     
EXTRANEOUS MATTER      WORKSHOPS      MARKET SURVEY

©2000-08 All Rights Reserved, Central Hudson Laboratory
designed and maintained by AdvantEdge Web Design