Recently expanded “Rapid Testing Laboratory” helps companies who require quick turn-around times on their quality control and quality assurance testing

Canton, MA, April 19, 2007 -- One of biggest challenges in the restaurant industry is the continued assurance and improvement of product quality and food safety at all critical points in the supply chain. It is an issue that affects restaurant chains of all sizes, including:

• Small to mid-size operators that are just starting to expand, and are looking for new suppliers to match the quality and safety of their signature items.

• Recently divested food chains that no longer have the QA support of a parent company.

• Fast-growing restaurant chains that have to outsource more, but need to know that new vendors can meet internal quality standards.

• Mega operators who already have established QA/QC programs in place, but want the security and confidence that comes with independent oversight.

Shuster Laboratories, Inc., an STR Group Company, is a leading provider of quality assurance and risk assessment programs for food service operators, manufacturers, and suppliers who want to ensure the highest level of confidence in their products and systems. Shuster offers a wide range of testing, audit, and inspection services to assess the quality and safety of food, packaging, and other hard and soft goods (such as toy premiums, cookware, and uniforms) associated with the food service business.

“Whether a company is large, mid-size, or small, we can help them understand the sources of product risk throughout their supply chain, and offer solutions to improve product safety and success in the marketplace,” said Dr. Kaveh Afshar, Chief Operating Officer of Shuster Laboratories.

Shuster recently expanded their food testing capacity with a major capital investment in several highly automated, state-of-the-art pieces of equipment for rapid turn around microbiological and analytical testing. The additional microbiological and analytical instrumentation enables Shuster to handle a higher volume of samples (at more competitive pricing) to meet the needs of food manufacturers, suppliers, and food service establishments who require quick turn-around times on their quality control and quality assurance testing.

Shuster also provides a broad spectrum of quality services to help clients assess packaging and other hard and soft goods, including:

• Plastic Products and Packaging – Evaluation of prospective vendors, validate supplier’s claims, and help restaurant chains meet consumer’s quality expectations.

• Toy Premiums – Assessments to ensure that all toy premium giveaways meet industry and regulatory requirements for safety, as well as quality and performance standards.

• Uniforms – Testing to ensure compliance with all U.S. and/or international quality protocols.

“Only through a rigorous program of supplier and distribution chain product testing and auditing can a restaurant be sure that the quality and safety requirements of their products are consistently being met. Relying on vendor certificates of analysis or reputation is not adequate,” said Dr. Afshar. “It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. With a risk assessment, we can figure out what needs to be done and develop a plan that is cost effective. Shuster is a prime resource for foodservice companies that need dedicated support for continuous QA monitoring and safety assessments.”


Shuster Laboratories, a Specialized Technology Resources (STR) company, is an independent provider of quality assurance testing, product development, and supply chain support services for a cross section of consumer product industries, including food service. STR, a privately held, U.S. owned company, is strategically located throughout the world in over 30 countries and on five continents. The STR Group Companies provide testing, audit, inspection, and responsible sourcing services and help ensure that clients have the highest level of confidence in the quality, safety, and social standards of their products and systems.