---
title: 'Water activity analysis'
date: '2022-11-08T17:14:11+01:00'
author: tourtools
type: applicazione
url: https://www.steroglass.it/en/applications/water-activity-analysis
id: 41
---

![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_680x460/public/images/covers/applicazioni/2024-06/conservabilita-alimenti.png?h=8912ab2d&itok=Uy3h7xqJ)

Water activity is one of the key parameters in determining the shelf-life of a product, whether food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic. Shelf-life can be defined as **the period of time during which that product maintains its original characteristics**. In fact, as time elapses, any product with an aqueous component, undergoes a change caused by microbial proliferation that develops in the presence of water, until it no longer conforms to its characteristics.

The **dew point sensor** measures actual water activity (free water with no chemical bonds with product molecules), which is a necessary parameter in defining the shelf-life of a food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic product.  
[aWLife](https://www.steroglass.it/en/water-activity-meter-awlife "water activity meter aWLife") is an indispensable instrument to measure water activity and determine shelf-life of a packaged product.

Shelf-life in food and pharmaceutical industries

Determining shelf-life in food and pharmaceutical products is a process aimed at **safeguarding the health of consumers**, therefore, ensuring proper storage of medicines and food to keep their properties unchanged is essential.  
Water activity (aW) measurements with aWLife analyser are really easy thanks to accurate, **repeatable and extremely fast analysis** and the innovative dew point sensor.

Shelf-life in cosmetics

**The safety of cosmetic products** requires a number of analyses. Every product undergoes variations due to aging and use.  
Water stability tests carried out with Waterlab define the product shelf-life: a time within which variations are acceptable to assure quality, safety and perceived pleasantness of a cosmetic product.