What is the first step in preparing food samples for testing?
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                According to expert sources, a significant portion of analytical errors in food testing originate from improper sample collection and preparation. The fundamental and most critical initial action in this process is collecting a representative sample, which lays the groundwork for all subsequent analyses and ensures that test results accurately reflect the overall quality of the food product.