Is Your Fortification Detectable? Navigating LOQs in Supplement and Food Testing
In today’s competitive health and nutrition landscape, fortifying foods and dietary supplements with vitamins, minerals, and bioactives has become a key strategy for innovation and value. But as any product developer or QA professional knows, adding an ingredient is only half the battle. The real challenge? Proving it's there—and in the right amount.
That’s where understanding the Limit of Quantitation (LOQ) comes in.
What Is the LOQ?
The LOQ refers to the lowest concentration of an ingredient that a testing method can reliably measure with precision and accuracy. It’s not the same as the Limit of Detection (LOD), which simply identifies that something is present. LOQ tells us how much is present—and that’s critical for label claims and compliance.
Why It Matters in Fortification
If the amount you’re adding is below the assay’s LOQ, your product may test as below specification or not detected.
To avoid this, it’s essential to determine whether your fortification level is high enough to be measured by the lab’s method for your product type.
Steps to Know If You’re Above the LOQ
Define Your Fortification Target
Start with your intended dose per serving. Express it in the appropriate unit—mg, µg, or % w/w.
Get the Assay’s LOQ (Specific to Your Matrix)
Different labs use different methods, and different product types (think: gummies vs. powders) impact sensitivity. Always confirm the LOQ based on your product matrix.
Compare Your Level to the LOQ
Are you accounting for an overage above the LOQ? That buffer helps account for any loss during processing or shelf life.
Account for Process Loss and Variability
Processing—like baking or spray drying—can reduce protein levels due to heat or handling. For instance, if you fortify with 15 grams per serving but end up with 9 grams post-processing, and the LOQ is 8 grams, you’re cutting it close. It is also important to remember that in many cases analyte concentrations near the LOQ typically demonstrate higher levels of variability. Building in a buffer helps ensure accurate, compliant results.
Evaluate based on the sample size used for testing
For reconstituted beverages or large-serving formats, remember: your product might be dosed at 1 mg per serving, but what’s in the actual sample size going to the lab? Will the testing portion contain enough to quantify?
What If You’re Below the LOQ?
If you're cutting it close or landing under the LOQ, you have options:
- Adjust the formulation to increase the fortification level.
- Discuss with your testing lab if there are more sensitive testing methods applicable to that product type
- Avoid making quantifiable label claims for that ingredient.
Final Thoughts
Understanding and planning around the LOQ is vital to protecting both your product integrity and your brand credibility. By proactively evaluating your nutrient levels against assay capabilities, you can avoid compliance headaches and confidently validate what your label promises.
Start the Conversation
Have additional questions? Ready to get started? We can help.
