Laboratory Excellence and AccreditationFood and Agricultural Product Testing
Food testing supports a label claim, a trade contract and a regulatory limit, and a wrong result either lets unsafe product through or rejects a consignment that was fit to sell. This course covers the analysis. Delegates work through sampling a heterogeneous commodity, which is the largest source of error in food testing, and proximate analysis including moisture, protein, fat, fibre and ash. Contaminant testing follows: mycotoxins, pesticide residues and heavy metals, with the reasons each matters in African commodity trade. Nutritional labelling analysis is covered. Method validation and matrix effects are addressed, since a method validated on one commodity does not transfer. The course closes on proficiency testing, on standards and on defending a disputed result.
Course objectives
- Sample a heterogeneous commodity representatively
- Perform proximate analysis and interpret the results
- Test for mycotoxins, pesticide residues and heavy metals
- Produce analysis supporting a nutritional label claim
- Validate a method and account for matrix effects
- Participate in proficiency testing and act on the outcome
- Defend a disputed result against a trading partner or regulator
Who should attend
- Food and agricultural laboratory analysts
- Quality control staff in food processing
- Commodity inspection and certification personnel
- Regulatory and public health laboratory staff
- Exporters meeting destination market requirements
Course outline
- 01Label claims, trade contracts and limits
- 02Sampling a heterogeneous commodity
- 03Proximate analysis
- 04Mycotoxin testing
- 05Pesticide residue analysis
- 06Heavy metals and contaminants
- 07Nutritional labelling analysis
- 08Validation, matrix effects and disputed results
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 September to 2 October 2026 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 30 November to 4 December 2026 | Windhoek, Namibia | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 4 to 8 January 2027 | Lusaka, Zambia | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | Register Now |