Types of Laboratory Tests For Edible Oils

Types of Laboratory Tests for Edible Oils

Testing edible oils ensures they are safe, pure, and of high quality. These tests are crucial for FSSAI compliance, export standards, and consumer trust.

Physicochemical Tests

These tests determine the basic physical and chemical properties of oils.

Test	Purpose
Moisture & Volatile Matter	Indicates shelf life and spoilage risk
Refractive Index	Identifies purity and type of oil
Specific Gravity	Differentiates between oil types
Color (Lovibond Tintometer)	Assesses oil clarity and grade
Viscosity	Measures flow properties

2. Chemical Quality Tests

These determine freshness, oxidation level, and chemical degradation.

Test	Purpose
Acid Value	Indicates free fatty acids; higher value means rancidity
Peroxide Value	Measures primary oxidation; important for shelf life
Saponification Value	Determines molecular weight and type of oil
Iodine Value	Assesses unsaturation; helps classify the oil
Unsaponifiable Matter	Detects impurities like waxes, sterols
Polenske & Reichert-Meissl Values	Used in ghee/butter fat analysis

3. Adulteration Tests

Check for mixing of cheaper or harmful oils.

Test	Detects
Bellier Turbidity Test	Adulteration in ghee or vanaspati
Baudouin Test	Detects sesame oil in vanaspati
Hexane Residue	Checks solvent extraction residues
Argemone Oil Detection	Highly toxic adulterant test
Trans Fatty Acid Test	Checks for industrial hydrogenation

4. Microbiological Tests (mostly for flavored/processed oils)

Total Plate Count
Yeast & Mould Count
Pathogen Detection (Salmonella, E. coli)
(Applicable in infused or unrefined oils)

5. Nutritional & Shelf Life Tests

Fatty Acid Profile (using GC-FID or GC-MS)
Cholesterol Content (especially in animal fats)
Vitamin E (Tocopherols)
Oxidative Stability Index (OSI)
Shelf Life Study under accelerated and real-time conditions

Testing Edible Oils at Tamilnadu Test House (TTH), Chennai

Tamilnadu Test House offers all the above tests with:

NABL-accredited instrumentation
FSSAI-recommended protocols
Support for export quality standards (AGMARK, ISO, etc.)

TTH handles testing for:

Groundnut, sunflower, coconut, sesame, mustard oils
Vanaspati, ghee, olive oil, rice bran oil, palm oil
Cold-pressed and infused oils

Report Deliverables from TTH

Comprehensive Test Report
Adulteration and purity certificate
Shelf life assessment data
FSSAI label compliance verification

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