SGS acquires food testing services provider ILC Micro-Chem in Canada

Inspection, verification, testing and certification firm SGS has acquired ILC, an independent laboratory that specialises in microbiology and food chemistry testing services.

ILC has been engaged in analysing raw food materials, finished food products, and environmental swabs for the food manufacturing sector.

SGS agriculture and food vice-president Don Slobodzian said: "ILC has been committed to helping customers address compliance issues and growing consumer demand for better information on food produced for human and animal consumption, so we are excited about this move that strengthens our microbiology and food chemistry testing services."

SGS operates a network of more than 2,000 offices and laboratories worldwide, as well as over 90,000 employees.

SGS CEO Frankie Ng said: "This acquisition closes a geographical gap in our testing portfolio and allows us to serve clients with a full service offering for food safety testing in Canada."

Established in 1985, ILC has been working with many food manufacturers and distributors to enable new products to reach the larger consumer market.

ILC can provide all critical micro pathogen methods and nutrition labelling chemistry methods, and is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

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Image: Food being tested in the lab. Photo: courtesy of jk1991 via freedigitalphotos.net.