Foods for infants and young children are held to stricter requirements than ordinary foods: their nutritional composition is regulated, and for several contaminants and residues the legal limits are much lower. ICA R&D tests infant and follow-on formula, processed cereal-based foods, fruit, vegetable and meat purées, juices, dairy products and snacks intended for children.
What we test
Contaminants are the main priority: mycotoxins (including aflatoxin M1 in milk-based products and patulin in apple-based products), metals, nitrates and nitrites. Pesticide residues are assessed against the limits specific to these products, and for raw materials of animal origin we can also test for antibiotic residues.
Microbiological testing covers the organisms relevant to this product group, for example Enterobacteriaceae in powdered formula, as well as sterility tests for canned products. We determine nutritional composition (protein, carbohydrates, fat, fatty acids, fibre, sodium, minerals; vitamins through subcontracting) to check conformity with the recipe and the label. On request we test for allergens, GMOs and migration from primary packaging.
Regulatory framework
- Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 – food intended for infants and young children and other specific groups
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 – composition and information requirements for infant and follow-on formula
- Regulation (EU) 2023/915 – maximum levels for contaminants, including those specific to infant foods
- Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 – maximum residue levels of pesticides
- Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 – microbiological criteria for foodstuffs
- Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 – food contact materials
How we work
Samples should be sent in their original, unopened packaging, ideally all from the same lot. For microbiological testing of powdered formula we will tell you in advance how many units are needed. Results are issued in a test report; accredited tests are marked as such in the report and are listed in the annex to RENAR accreditation certificate LI 871.
Parameters and determinations
Composition and nutrition information
- Energy value RENAR accredited
- Protein RENAR accredited
- Carbohydrates and sugars RENAR accredited
- Fat and fatty acid profile RENAR accredited
- Fibre RENAR accredited
- Sodium RENAR accredited
- Moisture and ash RENAR accredited
- Vitamins subcontracted
- Minerals RENAR accredited
Contaminants
- Mycotoxins (aflatoxins, aflatoxin M1, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, patulin) RENAR accreditedauthorised, not accredited
- Metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As) RENAR accredited
- Nitrates and nitrites RENAR accredited
Residues
- Pesticide residues authorised, not accredited
- Antibiotic residues subcontracted
Microbiology
- Enterobacteriaceae RENAR accredited
- Salmonella RENAR accredited
- Listeria monocytogenes RENAR accredited
- Bacillus cereus RENAR accredited
- Coagulase-positive staphylococci RENAR accredited
- Yeasts and moulds RENAR accredited
- Sterility tests (canned products) authorised, not accredited
Allergens and GMO
- Plant and animal allergens authorised, not accredited
- GMO screening RENAR accredited
Packaging
- Migration testing of primary packaging subcontracted
"RENAR accredited" links to the matching row of the accredited-tests table below (RENAR annex no. 1/24.04.2026); "authorised, not accredited" means authorised by ANSVSA (authorisation no. 95/24.09.2025) but outside the accreditation; "subcontracted" means performed by a partner laboratory. An analysis with two labels is accredited only for the matrices and methods in the table. "Not accredited" (non-food products, which need no authorisation) means performed in the ICA laboratory or by a partner laboratory, outside the accreditation.
This list is not exhaustive and not all determinations are accredited. For anything not listed here, please contact our sales team.