Meat Science Physicochemical Analysis Laboratory

The ISU Meat Science Physicochemical Analysis Laboratory offers the food analytical services listed below to internal and external customers. All protocols are either AOAC-approved or widely accepted in the field. We strive to offer a short turnaround time, although that is dependent on timing of advance notice, number of samples, and analyses requested. For more information and/or pricing, please e-mail Rodrigo Tarté at rtarte@iastate.edu.

  • Proximate analysis
    • Moisture
      • CEM Smart6 (rapid microwave drying) (AOAC 2008.06)
      • Oven drying (AOAC 950.46)
    • Fat
      • CEM Oracle (low-resolution proton NMR) (AOAC 2008.06)
      • Soxhlet extraction (AOAC 960.39)
    • Protein - CEM Sprint (dye-binding) (AOAC 2011.04)
  • pH
  • Salt (Quantab titrator strips) (AOAC 971.19)
  • Nitrite (Griess assay) (AOAC 973.31)
  • Cured meat pigment
  • Total meat pigment
  • Color (HunterLab)
  • Texture (Stable Microsystems TA-XT2i)
    • Shear (Warner-Bratzler, straight blade, puncture, MORS)
    • Penetration
    • Compression (Texture Profile Analysis and others)
  • Lipid oxidation
    • TBARS (distillation method)
    • Peroxide value
  • Water Activity