How to Ensure Quality Control with CO2 Analytical Support
Calibration standards, performance audits, and the FDA's
never-ending safety, labeling, and inspection requirements are
just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to dealing with the
increasingly stringent quality control standards of the beverage
industry. As these quality standards become stricter, beverage
producers are increasingly called upon to get products to market
faster using fewer resources, while simultaneously managing
ingredient quality, and ultimately, risk.
Mix rigorous regulations and mounting market challenges with
exploding competition and the opportunity for enormous economic
reward, and it becomes obvious that products must be perfect the
first time around to fulfill production requirements, comply
with distribution standards, and ultimately provide each
consumer with the exact same exceptional product every time.
All of which makes quality control more necessary than ever.
Quality Assurance in the beverage industry starts by ensuring
that top quality gases are used to perform the carbonation
process and continues through the bottling and distributing
process with a high-tech quality control examination.
On the top of the list of gases regulated in the world of drink
is carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the main components of many of
the beverages produced today, including soda, beer, sparkling
water, and sports drinks. CO2 has also become a major
constituent of orange juice through supercritical CO2 processing
during pasteurization and has even entered the world of dairy
with the addition of "Refreshing Power Milk," a new carbonated
milk hybrid, to the refreshments market.
Leading beverage manufacturers in this $700 billion industry are
taking the critical step to ensure purity of beverage-grade CO2
by using analytical support gases and quality assurance
services. Since ensuring purity of CO2 is such a crucial factor
in the beverage production process, choosing a specialty gas
company to provide purification, calibration, and
cross-reference services for your products should be a priority.
Keep in mind that specialty gas companies outside of the
beverage industry hold a uniquely favorable position as
authoritative and neutral third-party qualifiers. These
companies provide experience in developing trace contaminant
calibration standards as well as independence from the supply
and certification of beverage grade CO2, which helps to ensure
unbiased statistical and graphical reporting.
Regardless of the industry from which the service company
originates, it is vital that it provides specialized service in
the CO2 industry and adheres to industry standards on commercial
quality with regard to CO2.
Some more guidelines to consider when choosing a Quality Control
Specialty Gas Service: