The QA department’s ongoing investment in new technology, staff training and commitment to continuous improvement ensure that our analytical and sensory services are the most advanced available.
Chemical Analysis
The QA department carries out a wide variety of analytical testing on wines, beers and spirits. Our state-of-the-art systems include Gas Chromatography (GC-MS, GC-IR-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-MS) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-PDA, HPLC-FD).
Analytical services offered include testing for:
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Contaminants (e.g. pesticide residues, metals, potassium ferrocyanide, ethyl carbamate, ochratoxin A)
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Cork Taint Related Compounds (e.g. 2,4,6 - Trichloroanisole (TCA))
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Properties (e.g. sugars, volatile acidity, ethanol, total acidity)
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Preservatives (e.g. free and total SO2, sorbic acid)
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Additives (e.g. synthetic dyes)
Requesting Laboratory Analytical Services
Use the LCBO Laboratory Sample Submission Form (LCB 2269) to request analytical services on a contract laboratory basis. Typical reasons for requesting these services are:
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Analysis needed for Ontario manufacturer’s licence
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Annual analysis of products sold in manufacturer’s stores
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Proof of acceptability needed for wine pub or beer pub licensing
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Manufacturer investigations
The form includes instructions for payment and delivery of samples. Additional information and current pricing is available through quality.assurance@lcbo.com. Please identify the services required when asking for pricing.
Sensory
Evaluation
QA offers internal and external clients
quality, reliable sensory evaluation services
using highly trained professional taste panels
and sophisticated computerized software with
integrated network systems. Evaluations are
performed on a wide range of beverage alcohol
products and may be customized to meet
individual client needs.
- Qualitative Sensory Evaluations
- Quantitative Sensory Evaluations
- Accept /Reject Evaluations
- Double Blind Sensory Evaluations
- Triangle Tests
- Sensory Aroma Training Kits
- Wine Defect Aroma Kits
Contact: Leonard Franssen
Packaging
& Labeling Review
The QA department reviews cartons and consumer
units to ensure they are compliant with
Canadian regulations and LCBO standards. Our
services include:
Shipping Container Examinations: Cartons and trays are evaluated for structural design and integrity, as well as, printed case markings to ensure compliance with LCBO and Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions (CALJ) standards.
Bar Code Examinations: U.P.C. and SCC bar codes are evaluated to ensure compliance with the American National Standards Institutes (ANSI) standards for print code quality.
Burst Strength Testing: Packaging materials are subjected to a Mullen test to ensure compliance with LCBO packaging standards.
Contact: Leonard Franssen
Consumer Unit Label reviews: Labels are reviewed to ensure compliance with federal label regulations and LCBO requirements.
Simplified Canadian Label Requirements: Click here for guidelines on label requirements for a variety of Canadian products.
Contact: Carol Drummond