Laboratory activities and scientific support

The Swedish Food Agency performs analyses to ensure that food and drinking water are safe and that everyone is informed about what the food contains.

The Swedish Food Agency works with method development and has the equipment and competence to meet new needs. We are involved as expert support for both laboratory analysis competence and risk assessment and risk management. We accept samples for analysis by agreement.

The Swedish Food Agency has both chemical and microbiology accredited laboratories. Some 8,000 analyses are carried out in these laboratories every year. The analyses are performed for investigations, surveys and official controls.

The Swedish Food Agency acts as the national reference laboratory for 21 areas. The Swedish Food Agency is also a European reference laboratory for foodborne viruses.

Below are some of our laboratory services and projects presented. All other are presented in the meny to the left. 

Oats, almonds, apple and milk

Allergens

The Swedish Food Agency has several accredited methods for analysing allergens. An allergic reaction may occur either as a result of someone eating a poorly labelled food product or due to contamination of a food.
Woman breastfeeding with child next to her

Pollutants in breast milk and blood

Since 1996, the Swedish Food Agency has been regularly collecting samples of breast milk and blood from first-time mothers in Uppsala County, with co-financiers including the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as part of its environmental monitoring remit. The study is called Persistent Organic Pollutants in Uppsala Primiparas (POPUP). Since 2008, the study has also followed up the children of these mothers. The main aim with the POPUP study is to investigate how exposure to persistent organic pollutants changes over time in Swedish first-time mothers and their children.
Tre vialer

Proficiency testing

Do you want to participate in the microbiological proficiency testing program that is provided by the National Food Agency? Click here to read more and to register your lab.
Reviewed 2023-11-21