Heavy Metals in Food Testing

Heavy Metals like mercury, lead and cadmium are present in food and sometimes at unacceptable levels. Contaminants in food can be detected. One such laboratory that conducts this type of testing is Midwest Laboratories. If you have questions, contact Barry Blessing is the contact at Midwest Labs - 402-334-7770. This company also tests heavy metals in toys using the XRF Technology.

Shelf Life Testing

Over the past few months, I have heard about shelf life testing of sandwiches in vending machines, milk and carbonated beverages. Now some other items are beingshelf life tested like packaging and lead and nickel. Midwest Laboratories does provide this type of testing. Take a look at their website http://shelflifetesting.com/ . If you don't see your product listed, give Erin Smith a call. 402-334-7770.

Manure Testing -Saving Money on Fertilizer Costs

Many farmers are turning to manure as a fertilizer source. The keys to making manure work are in the following:

• Having the manure tested at a private laboratory for nutrient value.


• Properly calibrating application equipment


• Coordinating the applications with soil test results and predictions of crop-available nitrogen Source: http://www.foodandsocietyfellows.org/publications.cfm?refID=103024

Making use of results from Manure Testing/Soil Testing can help save money with respect to Fertilizer Costs.

Soil Testing

Here is some informaiton which can affect results obtained from soil testing.

"Factors Effecting Irregularities in Soil Analysis"

1. Varied depth of sampling (Sample at tillage depth).
2. Combining unlike soil areas into one composite sample.
3. Combining soil areas with different past liming, fertilizer, or cropping histories into one composite sample.
4. Combining an insufficient number of sub-samples into composite from extremely varied or land-leveled fields.
5. Attempting to use singgle composite sample for too large an acre.
6. Varying amounts of organic matter or undercomposed organic matter in sample.
7. Soft rocks in sample.
8. Forded drying of soil sample at high heat.
9. Soils that have been sampled, dried, or processed in contaminated containers.
10. Improper packaging of samples, allowing contaminants to become part of sample.
11. Mixing sample identity.
12. Improper sampling equipment (Do not use galvanized or cadmium based equipment. Do not lubricate with other than food oil).
13. Poor distribution of manure applications.

Check out more Midwest Laboratory Memos at http://www.midwestlabs.com/

Also check out current information about soil testing at their store site, http://midwestlabtest.com/

Water Testing

Midwest Laboratories offers a wide variety of water testing packages. You can order the supplies online, the kits are shipped to you. You collect the water sample and send it back to the lab for testing. The whole process takes about 7-10 days. Check it out on their catalog site.

Lawn & Garden Test

Check out this Lawn and Garden Test at Midwest Laboratories eStore. Just posted today! For $30.00, you get supplies sent to your address with a return shipping label. Your soil is shipped to a laboratory and you receive results in less than 5 days.

Diesel Testing

Diesel Testing is pretty prominent in light of the switch from Low Sulfur Diesel to Ultra-Low Sufur Diesel. 500ppm to 15ppm for limits. Serveral laboratories offer this type of testing. One in particular provides supplies/kits with their analysis.
Midwest Laboratories http://www.midwestlabs.com

In addition, microbial growth is another diesel test which is very poular too. Same site has information on this test. Check around and let me know if $47.50 is a good price.