Non-invasive sensing for food reassurance

Abstract

Consumers and governments are increasingly interested in the safety, authenticity and quality of food commodities. This has driven attention towards non invasive sensing techniques used for rapid analyzing these commodities. This paper provides an overview of the state of the art in, and available alternatives for, food assurance based on non invasive sensing techniques. The main food quality traits of interest using non invasive sensing techniques are sensory characteristics, chemical composition, physicochemical properties, health protecting properties, nutritional characteristics and safety. A wide range of non invasive sensing techniques, from optical, acoustical, electrical, to nuclear magnetic, x ray, biosensor, microwave and terahertz, are organized according to physical principle. Some of these techniques are now in a period of transition between experimental and applied utilization and several sensors and instruments are reviewed. With continued innovation and attention to key challenges, such non invasive sensors and biosensors are expected to open up new exciting avenues in the field of portable and wearable wireless sensing devices and connecting with mobile networks, thus finding considerable use in a wide range of food assurance applications. The need for an appropriate regulatory framework is emphasized which acts to exclude unwanted components in foods and includes needed components, with sensors as part of a reassurance framework supporting regulation and food chain management. The integration of these sensor modalities into a single technological and commercial platform offers an opportunity for a paradigm shift in food reassurance.Non invasive sensing; food, machine vision; Vis/NIR spectroscopy; UV Vis fluorescence; hyperspectral imaging, ultrasound; electronic nose; electronic tongue; conductivity; NMR; X ray; Microwave; Terahertz; quality; reassurance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 In recent years, consumers and governments are increasingly demanding information and reassurance on the content as well as on the origin of their food 1 3 . Food industry (suppliers, manufactures and supermarkets) are required to provide and confirm the authenticity and point of origin of food products and their components, in order to protect consumer rights and prevent fraudulent or deceptive practices such as food adulteration. Therefore, food reassurance is crucial to food production and security of food supply 4 6 . Page 2 of 65 AnalystThe concept of reassurance relies on the fact that it is desirable to ensure that the food adheres to its implied or commonly understood description. For example, free from inanimate objects such as glass, plastic, metal that can enter through the manufacturing processes; free from unacceptable levels of animate material such as viruses, bacteria, prions and spores that could lead to ...

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