Flavor stability testing predicts how concentrates age in your finished product. A structured protocol catches oxidation, top-note loss and color drift before customers do.
Key Highlights
- Real-time (12 months) and accelerated (40C, 4-8 weeks) testing both matter
- Test in the actual finished matrix, not just the concentrate
- Track sensory, GC profile, color and pH at defined intervals
Protocol Design
Fill representative finished-product samples in actual packaging. Store at: 4C (reference), 25C (real-time) and 40C (accelerated). Evaluate at 0, 2, 4, 8 weeks (accelerated) and 1, 3, 6, 12 months (real-time).
What to Measure
- Sensory scoring vs time-zero reference (trained panel, blind)
- GC-FID or GC-MS fingerprint vs reference chromatogram
- Color change (spectrophotometer or visual vs standard)
- pH and viscosity drift for liquid matrices
- Headspace oxygen if oxidation-sensitive
matai provides per-batch GC reference chromatograms on request, giving customers a baseline for their own stability programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does accelerated testing take?
A meaningful accelerated screen runs 4-8 weeks at 40C, roughly equivalent to 6-12 months ambient for many systems.
Should I test concentrate or finished product?
Both: concentrate stability for inventory planning, finished-matrix stability for shelf-life claims.
Next step: Request GC reference chromatograms via contact us.