Econo-Pak added salt analysis to our on-site testing capabilities to test our clients’ products during the seasoning and/or blending process. This equipment allows us to ensure that the salt levels meet the finished product specifications, before they are packaged and distributed to the market and consumers.
Let’s learn about salt in food products and how salt analyzers manage sodium levels for optimal taste.
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of the sodium that Americans consume doesn’t come from regular table salt but instead comes from consuming prepared and packaged foods, such as chips, crackers, soups, pizza, deli meat sandwiches, and more.
Since these foods contain too much sodium, it is very difficult for individuals to reduce their sodium intake. Because of this, the FDA has been working with the food industry in an effort to reduce the sodium content in various foods. Consumers monitor their daily intake of salt in food products, due to general or specific health reasons, so it is imperative the finished product is aligned to the salt content labeled on the package labeling
Salt in Food Products
Sodium is used across a range of food applications, including baking, thickening, curing meat, enhancing flavor, and more. Salt is used in preservation of food products for centuries, contributing to extended shelf life of food product(s). Although these are all important uses, it is very important to monitor salt content to ensure you are not using too much or too little.
The increased scrutiny over nutritional labeling, coupled with the importance of salt in taste and shelf stability, makes it essential for food processors to establish and maintain desired salt levels in product recipes.
The Salt Analyzer: What Is It and What Does It Do?
Econo-Pak’s new salt analyzer offers food processors a rapid, accurate, and easy-to-use method to monitor salt levels in various foods for our clients. It analyzes salt content in solutions by measuring solution temperature and conductivity. The internal microprocessor mathematically compensates for any shifts in solution temperature and translates to salt concentration, displaying the results in different units.
Depending on the food product being analyzed, we use non-contact dip-in probe or a flow-through column, both of which use non-corroding internal electrodes. This eliminates turbulent flow and ensures precise sample repeatability while keeping the bore obstruction-free.
Food Products We Analyze With a Salt Analyzer
Our salt analyzer will measure sodium content in many types of foods, including:
- Wheat flour
- Cereals
- Chips
- Pretzels
- Popcorn
- Cookies
- Trail mix
- And more
Econo-Pak’s Salt Analysis of Consumer Food products
Our in-house salt analysis comes with several benefits for our clients who use our seasoning and blending services, including:
- Easy to use. Our salt analyzer is easy to use – we will simply prepare your sample and use the membrane keypad to program each sample’s name, testing time, and date.
- Versatile. The salt analyzer’s compact design allows testing to be conducted either on the line or back in the laboratory. It can also be linked to any computer or printer to produce a permanent record.
- Fast and accurate. With our salt analysis methods, we can measure salt concentrations from less than 0.1 to over 26% by weight without dilution and 100% salt with dilution and get your results within seconds.
- Backed by quality service. At Econo-Pak, we’re dedicated to providing a high-quality product that meets customer expectations as well as rigorous regulatory standards, such as the FDA and Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI).
Your Partner for Your Food Packaging Needs
At Econo-Pak, we specialize in food packaging such as bagging, wrapping, pouching, cartoning, and procurement. With our dedication to quality, we strive to help people live healthier lives by providing the necessary tools to make that happen. For more information about how we perform our in-house salt analysis for our contract food manufacturing services, contact us today.