Scanner for toxic mould
All crops are susceptible to moulds, which can produce harmful mycotoxins resistant to digestion and seriously infect animal products, including meat. Conventional detection methods are costly, slow and difficult, and although infrared spectroscopy has been introduced, the technology is still neither sufficiently reliable nor sensitive enough. The EU-funded MYCOSPEC (Novel infrared spectroscopic tools for mycotoxin determination in foodstuffs for increased food safety) project developed and successfully demonstrated a new technology. The purpose was to create a simple and portable detector for use in food and animal feed industries. The spectroscopic system detects chemical changes resulting from fungal infection. Investigators first ascertained the needs of stakeholders, and used the information to finalise the prototype design concept. Rigorous testing established two spectral regions of interest, able to detect amides and carbohydrates. Further testing yielded an optimum waveguide width and thickness, suitable for industrial application. Researchers assessed various solid and liquid food types using both conventional detection methods and the spectroscopic system. The comparison established that samples from two types of solid food could be successfully measured for mycotoxins using the new system, achieving accuracies between 77 and 95 %. The final prototype includes three main functional components: optics, electronics and software. The unit hosts various supporting systems and was deemed robust and portable. Functionality testing showed that the device successfully provided a yes/no indication of contamination beyond the legal limit for various food samples. Hence, the concept was proven and the system is ready for further commercialisation development. MYCOSPEC's work has provided a means of simply and reliably detecting mycotoxins in food. Being able to do so will mean reduced food wastage and improved public health, thus removing a significant drain in the European economy.
Keywords
Spectroscopic tool, foods, mycotoxins, infrared, MYCOSPEC, food safety
