The Importance of pH Measurement in Assuring Product Quality

A functional defnition of pH is the measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of

a solution commonly measured on a scale of 0 to 14 pH ! is considered
neutral" #ith lo#er pH $alues %eing acidic and higher $alues %eing alkaline or
caustic pH is the most common of all analytical measurements in industrial
processing and since it is a direct measure of acid content &H'(" it clearly
plays an important role in food processing Among the reasons for measuring
pH in food processing include)
*To produce products #ith consistent #ell defned properties
*To e+ciently produce products at optimal cost
*To a$oid causing health pro%lems to consumers
*To meet regulatory re,uirements
The pH range of foods $aries considera%ly #ith some typical $alues of food
and related solutions illustrated in -igure 1 .ue to the logarithmic nature of
the measurement" e$en small changes in pH are signifcant The di/erence
%et#een pH 0 and pH 1 represents a ten2fold increase in acid concentration3
a change of 4ust 05 represents a dou%ling of acid concentration 6ariations of
pH can impact 7a$or" consistency" and shelf2life