Keith Belk, PhD
Dr. Keith Belk is the Director of Eurofins’ Advanced Learning Institute and Professor and Holder of the Monfort Endowed Chair, Center for Meat Safety & Quality, Colorado State University (CSU), and as an Adjunct Professor in the Colorado School of Public Health. Previously, he served as Professor and Head of the Department of Animal Sciences at CSU. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from CSU, and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He currently serves in a consulting role as the Director of Education for Eurofins Rapid Microbiology Laboratories, LLC. Dr. Belk is also a member of the International Committee for the National Western Stock Show, the Board of Directors for the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation, on the Academic Advisory Committee for the Meat Institute Protein PACT, and on the technical advisory committees for Sustainable Beef, JBS, Colorado Premium Foods, and Hawkins.
Below are resources from Dr. Keith Belk:
Over the past decade, non-alcoholic and alcohol-free beverages have experienced a steady rise in popularity. As this trend continues to gain momentum, it is essential for both producers and consumers to understand the relevant analytical requirements and labeling terminology. Read more for a simple explanation of labeling terms and the agencies that oversee alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage labeling.
When it comes to refrigerated and frozen foods, shelf-life testing isn’t just about timelines, it’s about protecting your brand, your label claims, and your consumer’s experience. In this Ask the Expert feature, Sam Wiesenfeld shares insights into the most common questions clients face when designing shelf-life testing protocols for refrigerated and frozen foods.
Photostability testing is crucial for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of products. While there are not specific requirements, the FDA makes it clear it is recommended for all products susceptible to light. Check out our infographic about the importance of photostability testing in OTC products.
As consumer demand for cleaner labels and naturally derived ingredients continues to rise, many manufacturers of OTC and dietary supplement products are reformulating to remove artificial colors and dyes. While this shift aligns with market trends, it introduces significant challenges—especially when it comes to product stability.
Creating shelf-stable nutritional bars and other natural food products is about understanding the science behind food preservation, taste and appearance. One of the most critical factors in the formulation of long-lasting, safe and appealing products is water activity. Water activity plays a major role in maintaining texture, reducing the rate of fats oxidation preventing spoilage and ensuring safety from microbial growth. Keep reading to learn what is being done to create a longer shelf life.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors drug manufacturers' compliance with its current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations in order to ensure the quality of drug products. These regulations are designed to assure products are safe for use and contain the ingredients, strengths, and efficacies of claims made by the product. Learn what tests your OTC products need to be compliant.
This webinar covers food safety product categories and the impact of ingredients required to improve microbial stability on product acceptance. Original airdate May 21, 2024.
This webinar focuses on the principles and theory of food spoilage, within the context of how these concepts can help you better understand what to do when things go wrong (spoil) and design a product in a way to prevent spoilage in the first place. Original airdate May 8, 2024.
This case study details how Eurofins The National Food Lab was able to assist a start-up company in developing a shelf-stable Ready to Drink product with a high active concentration.
The research and development team of Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc. set out to better
understand STEC growth on lettuce by designing an experiment to observe the limits of detection by
real-time PCR using bacteria that were cold-stressed against those grown under non-stressed conditions. This white paper explains further.
