KOCHI: The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) has granted accreditation to the quality testing laboratory of the Coconut Development Board at the CDB Institute of Technology in Aluva. The accreditation was granted for Chemical and Biological Testing, with effect from February 5.
The quality testing laboratory is equipped with advanced analytical instruments and testing facilities to carry out tests for chemical and microbiological parameters of coconut-based products and other food products. "The chemical testing facility includes quality testing and nutritional analysis of products like coconut oil/vegetable oil, desiccated coconut, copra, oil cake, vinegar, coconut based value-added food products, Neera and Neera-based products, and coconut milk and milk-based products, as per the BIS, AOAC, AOCS standards," stated a CDB release. The microbiological testing facility includes quality testing of all coconut-based foods, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut milk powder, jam, squash and soft drinks as well as other food products. The testing parameters include Total Plate Count(TPC), Yeast and Mold, Total Coliforms, Escherichia Coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus Aureus, as per the USFDA (BAM) and the BIS standards. "NABL-accredited laboratories in India follow the same guidelines as accredited laboratories in other parts of the world. It is associated with the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Corporation (APLAC), Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). They are especially valuable for international recognition and mutual acceptance of test results, and have worldwide acceptance," said officials.