Lab-Tested Food for Kids: Why We Test for Germs

Every batch tested in our own lab ยท Hyderabad

Why we test our food for germs before it reaches your child

Food can look clean, smell fresh and still carry germs you cannot see. That is why TummyFriendly Foods runs its own microbiology and chemistry lab, right next to where we make your child's food, and tests every batch before it ships.

Every batchtested before dispatch
Indian Standard methodsBIS test methods, FSSAI limits
NABL cross-checkssamples also sent to an outside lab
TummyFriendly Foods microbiologist examining a food sample under a microscope in the in-house lab
Our microbiologist checking a sample under the microscope.

Why microbial testing matters more for children's food

  • A child's immunity is still developing. Germs that an adult's body may handle easily can upset a small child's tummy much more.
  • Children eat more for their body size. A spoonful of food is a much bigger share of a child's daily intake than an adult's, so food quality matters more.
  • Dry foods are not automatically germ-free. Grains, millets, nuts, seeds and dry fruits come from farms. Powders, porridge mixes and flours can carry moulds and bacteria if they are not handled and stored properly.
  • You cannot see, smell or taste most germs. The only way to know is to test the food in a lab.

In India, FSSAI (the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) sets the microbiological limits that food products must meet. We test using the methods laid down by BIS (the Bureau of Indian Standards), so our results can be compared with these limits.

What we test for, in simple words

Test What it tells us Indian Standard
Total Plate Count (TPC) How many bacteria are present overall. A low count means the food was made and stored cleanly. IS 5402
Coliforms Signs of poor hygiene during handling. These should not be found in safe food. IS 5401 (Part 1)
E. coli A bacterium that points to contamination. It should not be present. IS 5887 (Part 1)
Food-poisoning bacteria Checks for the bacteria that cause tummy upsets and food poisoning. IS 5887
Yeast & mould Whether fungi are growing. Mould can spoil dry foods like flours, nuts and dry fruits. IS 5403

Samples are drawn and handled the way IS 5404 lays down, so the test itself does not add germs. We also check the cleanliness of our machines, work surfaces, production air and water.

Inside our lab

Microscope examination of a food sample in the TummyFriendly Foods microbiology lab
Microscope checks. Looking closely at what grows on a test plate.
Microbiologist handling petri plates inside the clean-air cabinet at TummyFriendly Foods
Microbiology. Samples are handled in a clean-air cabinet so the test itself stays clean.
Chemist performing a titration in the TummyFriendly Foods chemistry lab
Chemistry. Titration and other tests that check the food's quality and nutrition values.

We test the nutrition too

Germs are one part of safety. Our chemistry lab checks that the food is fresh and that the nutrition values on our packs are real lab results.

Moisture

Too much moisture lets mould grow. Keeping it low keeps dry food fresh.

IS 11623 ยท IS 16072

Protein

For growing muscles. Measured, not estimated.

IS 7219

Fat

Healthy fats from nuts and seeds, measured for the label.

IS 11721

Carbohydrates

The energy in every serving.

IS 1656

Crude fibre

For a happy tummy and easy digestion.

IS 10226 (Part 1)

Ash & iron

Total minerals, and iron for healthy blood.

IS 14433

Vitamin A & carotenes

For eyes and immunity.

IS 5886

Vitamin C

For immunity and better iron absorption.

IS 5838

Aroma & taste

Trained tasting so every batch smells and tastes as it should.

IS 10641

We check raw materials when they arrive and every finished batch before it is packed and shipped. From time to time we also send samples to an outside NABL-accredited lab to cross-check our own results.

Questions parents ask

Do you test every batch?

Yes. Every batch is tested in our in-house lab before it ships.

Why do you have your own lab instead of only using an outside lab?

An in-house lab lets us test every batch quickly, as part of our everyday work. We also send samples to an outside NABL-accredited lab from time to time to cross-check our results.

Do dry foods like porridge mixes really need germ testing?

Yes. Grains, millets, nuts and dry fruits come from farms and can carry moulds and bacteria. Being dry slows germs down, but it does not remove them. Testing is how we check.

What is TPC?

Total Plate Count. It measures the overall number of bacteria in a sample. A low count is a sign of clean ingredients, clean handling and good storage.

Which standards do you follow?

We test using Indian Standard (BIS) methods such as IS 5402, IS 5401, IS 5403 and IS 5887 for microbiology, and check results against the limits set by FSSAI.

Food you can trust, checked in our own lab

Proudly women-owned, made in Hyderabad.

Shop our products