More than 4 million pounds of refined sugar was at stake!
More than 4 million pounds of sugar was quarantined by the FDA after a warehouse fire raised fears of product contamination from heat, smoke and gaseous vapors.
The Assignment
Recommended as a “consultative problem solver” Quantum Analytics Group was asked to meet with the stakeholders of this major US sugar manufacturer.
The Challenge
The fire had started in an adjacent building, with smoke and fumes entering the sugar warehouse through the HVAC system.
The Issues
The sugar company tried, on their own, to get the FDA to lift the quarantine.
The Timing
More time was wasted when the in-house team insisted on testing for “volatile compounds” and “solvents”.
The Solution
Success was quickly achieved through Quantum’s knowledge of the chemistry of fire itself, along with a deeper understanding of what the FDA was actually looking for.
The Approach
Proposing an analytical strategy and protocol that was accepted by the FDA, Quantum was able to fast-track the testing results.
The Insight
“Knowing what the FDA was really looking for was critical, but proving that our method was suitable for intended use when there was no existing methods geared towards testing sugar for PAH’s was the key”.
The Result
The sugar was safe! The resulting evidence lifted the quarantine.
Every pound was removed from the warehouse and allowed to safely go to market.
The Value
The sugar company was able to recover millions of dollars through the sale of the unscathed sugar.
The value of an experienced and consultative CRO can grow dramatically – especially when things don’t go as planned! Raw materials are easily compromised. Is your lab up to the challenge?