RSSL invests £1.2m in nutritional testing lab

Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), a leading food contract research organisation (CRO), has significantly bolstered its analytical portfolio with the launch of a dedicated nutritional testing service.

The move, backed by a £1.2 million investment, positions RSSL as one of the largest providers of its kind in the UK.

The new laboratory has been specifically engineered for high-throughput analysis and cost efficiency, directly addressing a surge in demand from food and beverage clients for reliable, rapid-turnaround nutritional data.

The expansion allows RSSL to offer a comprehensive one-stop solution for brands navigating the complexities of modern food production. The service covers all essential nutritional parameters, including ash, carbohydrates, energy, protein, and fat, alongside critical labelling components such as dietary fibre, salt, and sugar.

“Expanding our service solutions to include nutritional testing is a natural progression,” says Mark Wilson, head of food sales at RSSL. “We’ve created a service that addresses formulation on new products, health claims, and labelling compliance, while also providing the expertise needed to tackle complex formulation challenges or critical crisis support.”

In an industry where speed-to-market is vital, RSSL has integrated a “priority channel” into the new service. This allows clients to fast-track analysis beyond standard on-time delivery — a feature designed to support R&D teams under tight deadlines or retailers requiring urgent verification.

The facility’s technical capabilities are matched by a commitment to client experience. Marta Ahijado, food sciences section lead, highlights the firm’s agile approach: “Our focus is always on delivering outstanding service, whether we’re conducting robust analysis to satisfy retailer requirements or helping solve complex problems when things go wrong. This commitment is reflected in our NPS score of +70.”

The nutritional testing wing does not operate in isolation. It is designed to function as a standalone service or as a core component of RSSL’s broader integrated programmes. This allows manufacturers to bundle nutritional data with other critical safety and quality checks, including:

• Allergen testing
• Vitamins & minerals analysis
• Contaminant screening
• Shelf-life studies

By combining state-of-the-art instrumentation with high-level consultancy, RSSL aims to help clients drive efficiencies and achieve consistently reliable outcomes in an increasingly regulated global market.

 More information on the full range of services can be found at www.rssl.com/news/rssl-launches-dedicated-nutritional-testing-service/.