Science, technology and regulatory consulting services company Leatherhead Food Research has maintained its status as the first and only facility offering UKAS accredited generation and verification of cooking instructions across comprehensive equipment (testing laboratory number 9365).

“Generating and verifying the cooking instructions that food and beverage manufacturers place on their packets is a vital part of taking products to market,” said Chris Wells, MD. “It is only through rigorous adherence to best practice, as recognised by the UKAS accreditation, that food manufacturers and their customers can be confident that cooking instructions are accurate, consistent and traceable to national standards. We want to ensure that our clients’ customers have the best eating experience possible and using Leatherhead’s cooking instructions service helps deliver this.”

Leatherhead Food Research first achieved UKAS accreditation for specific cooking instructions techniques in 2016 following a two-year application process. Procedures for both cooking instructions generation and verification were documented, methods validated and equipment calibrated for traceability to national standards for weight, time and temperature. Staff were trained to the same level to ensure consistent results and Leatherhead’s quality management system enhanced to an industry-leading standard.

Significant investment in the business in 2016 by parent company Science Group plc, and a move to new premises in Epsom, enabled Leatherhead to invest in purpose-built, expanded facilities equipped with all new thermal ovens (gas, electric and fan assisted), gas and electric hobs, deep fat fryers and microwaves covering a comprehensive range of wattages. UKAS accreditation for the ovens, grills, hobs and deep fat fryers was reinstated post move. Leatherhead’s microwave testing techniques follow the same documented quality management system procedures and the company is working towards UKAS accreditation for this service.

Leatherhead Food Research is audited against ISO 17025:2005 (general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) and operates as a UKAS accredited testing laboratory (no. 9365) for: foreign body analysis and evaluation of muscle structure relating to mechanically separated meat (MSM) using light microscopy; cooking instructions testing (gas and electric thermal oven, electric fan oven, gas and electric hob, gas and electric grill and deep fat fryer techniques); and sensory triangle testing.