This document summarizes research on using handheld spectroscopy to rapidly screen for food authenticity in the field. The researchers developed chemometric models using microNIR spectroscopy to identify rice varieties, including distinguishing Thai Hom Mali rice from similar varieties and determining different basmati rice varieties. Samples of authentic rice were scanned and spectra were generated within seconds. Four qualitative models were generated that could distinguish between varieties. The rapid, on-site screening has potential applications for early detection of rice adulteration and substitution in the supply chain. Further testing is needed including expanding the rice sample size and real-world field trials with industry partners.

1. www.qub.ac.uk/igfsterry.mcgrath@qub.ac.uk
Leaving the laboratory behind: Rapid in-field food authenticity screening using handheld spectroscopy
Terry F. McGrath, Simon A. Haughey, Christopher T. Elliott
Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Introduction
Food fraud is estimated to cost the world economy $US49b per year. Authentic products are substituted, or diluted, with inferior/ cheaper products. Conventional methods used to
determine food authenticity are laboratory based, require skilled operators, are expensive or time consuming. Meanwhile food industry stakeholders need rapid field deployable
methodologies in their fight against fraudsters. This can be achieved through the use of handheld spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with chemometric modelling. Using such
techniques will cause a paradigm shift in food fraud detection by taking authenticity testing out of the laboratory setup and putting it in the hands of end users who can test on-site
anywhere, anytime, in the supply chain and get immediate results right at their fingertips.
Rice is the most important staple for more than half the world’s population. Because of the global economics of rice, it is a prime target for adulteration. Recently, Asian rice producers
have come under fire for making “premium” brands of rice that are essentially “fake.” Here we present our latest findings on using handheld NIR technology to determine rice variety and
origin.
Materials and Methods
MicroNIR™ Pro ES instrumentation
(Viavi Solutions Inc.)
Can you identify authentic Thai Hom Mali rice?
a b
c d
a Cambodian Fragrant main, b Cambodian Fragrant minor, c Vietnamese Fragrant, d Thai Hom Mali, e Pakistan, f Pusa, g Traditional Grade A
Sample Collection & Preparation
Samples of authentic rice varieties with full provenance
were provided by leading industry suppliers.
Polished rice sample were placed in a petri dish and
scanned from the underside. Spectra were generated
within seconds.
e
What about variety of basmati?
f g
Chemometric Analysis and Models
NIR Data
Acknowledgements The research undertaken was funded
through the Invest NI POC programme. Project Number PoC
615: The future of food authenticity: Rapid in-field
detection.
Rapid methods developed to identify rice
varieties
Chemometric models developed from
spectral data
Potential early detection of adulteration/
substitution
Next stages: increase rice sampling ,
retail survey and in-field trials by end-
user group
Test transferability of model
Conclusions
Four separate qualitative models generated using the supervised OPLS-DA algorithm. Top Left: two class model to
distinguish between Thai Hom Mali and non-Thai Hom Mali. Top Right: multi class model showing differences between
Thai Hom Mali and visibly similar rice varieties from nearby regions. Bottom left: two class model to distinguish between
basmati and non-basmati rice. Bottom right: multi class model showing differences between different varieties of
basmati rice.
(answers at the bottom of the poster)