food tests

• Food Tests


  9 practical tests you can do to determine the composition of foods
• Using the Benedict's Test


  1. Prepare food sample

  2. Add Benedict's solution

  3. Heat in water bath

  4. Observe colour change (blue to brick-red) indicating presence of reducing sugars
• Using Iodine Solution

  1. Prepare food sample

  2. Add iodine solution

  3. Observe colour change (orange to black/blue-black) indicating presence of starch
• Using the Biuret Test

  1. Prepare food sample

  2. Add Biuret solution

  3. Observe colour change (blue to purple) indicating presence of proteins
• Using the Sudan III Test

  1. Prepare food sample

  2. Add Sudan III stain

  3. Observe separation into two layers with top layer bright red, indicating presence of lipids
• Meat and cheese are protein-rich foods
• Lipids are found in foods such as oil, margarine and milk
• A risk assessment should be done before conducting these food tests due to the chemicals involved