Water activity (aw) measures the amount of available moisture in a product that can support microbial growth. Unlike moisture content, it measures how easily microorganisms such as mold or bacteria can proliferate in the product environment. Maintaining proper water activity levels helps reduce mold growth risk, improve product shelf stability, support product safety and quality, and meet regulatory testing standards. Water activity testing is particularly important for dried cannabis flower and certain infused products, where moisture control is critical to preventing microbial contamination during storage and distribution.
