How Portable NIR Spectrometers Revolutionize Food Testing and Safety

Some revolutions are loud, disruptive and shiny. Others seem like such an obvious solution to an existing problem, and such a clear improvement, that they are taken almost for granted. Handheld NIR (Near-Infrared) spectrometers fall into the second category. They are becoming used across such a wide variety of use cases that it’s only by taking a step back that you can appreciate how revolutionary they are in food testing and safety. 

Key Takeaways:

• These devices replace laborious, delay-inducing, destructive laboratory methods with instant, on-site results, making it simple and intuitive to integrate food testing and safety into every stage of production. 
• They’re so simple to use – SCIO’s devices require no expertise whatsoever – that anyone can use them in a field, in storage facilities, during food production, and more. 
• Measuring crucial composition components such as moisture, protein, fat and more can now be done in seconds, whether it’s grain in the field, berries ready to harvest, fruit, grains or vegetables being transported, or food being stored. 

By incorporating these accurate and easy to use devices into food testing and safety, companies can make their processes more streamlined, more data-driven and more efficient.

How Portable NIR Spectrometers Work

Portable NIR spectrometers work by using near-infrared light to analyze the chemical composition of a sample without damaging it. It’s really the same technology that has been used in laboratories for many years, but now miniaturized so that you get a handheld device. 

A portable version of a spectrometer is more practical for a lot of food-related use cases than a lab test, because you can bring the analysis to the food, rather than having to laboriously collect, transport, and analyze a sample. Having a handheld NIR spectrometer means that you can measure as many samples as you desire, right away. 

The basic principle that makes this possible is that the device shines infrared light on a sample, and then a detector inside the spectrometer measures the light that is not absorbed and is either reflected or transmitted through the sample. The amount of light detected at each wavelength is recorded, creating a unique NIR spectrum making it possible to identify the components of the sample. 

From the end user perspective, what happens is that you point a NIR food analyzer at the thing you’d like to analyze, wait a few seconds, and get an accurate result. The data, in turn, can be stored until needed, or synced automatically into whichever systems and processes are relevant. 

Portable NIR Spectrometers Applications in Food Testing

Using a handheld NIR spectrometer for food testing has a lot of advantages, which is why it’s becoming a popular option in the industry. Since the analysis doesn’t impact or change the sample itself, it’s ideal for food. It’s safe, non-destructive, and allows you to make adjustments as necessary on the fly based on real-time data. 

The technology has become widely used across the many stages of food production, from harvest to storage and pricing. In fact one of the factors that indicates how revolutionary these devices have been is how naturally they have become integrated into so many parts of the food production process, with applications including:

• In the field. Produce growing in the field can be tested with these devices to monitor the levels of many things, including moisture content, to make it easier to maximize quality and yield. 
• Food in storage. Making sure that food is being stored safely and that the storage is not negatively impacting the quality or safety of the food is crucial. It is easy to check on food using portable devices, because all you need is for someone to visit the facility and scan. 
• Feed and forage. Changing weather conditions and unexpected events are par for the course when it comes to farming. Farmers in the habit of using these devices to check the composition of their animal feed can optimize for the health of their animals, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. 
• Fruit testing. How sweet your berries are no longer has to be a matter of mystery, or a taste test. With these devices, you can have your analysis and sell the berry at the perfect time. 
• Dairy. Cheese making is famously an art as well as a science, but the more information you have about the product as you’re creating it, the more confident you can be about getting the food you expect while ensuring safety at all times.

How NIR Spectrometers Impact Food Safety and Compliance

What is so notable about the diversity of use cases for these handheld, portable, precise food analyzers is that they span the lifecycle of food production. That means that they can be incorporated into processes for ensuring food safety and compliance and making sure that data is at the core of all the necessary analysis. 

No matter where a company sits within the food production cycle, therefore, it’s likely that these devices can assist in prioritizing food safety and compliance, including:

• While food is being grown. Monitoring crops, fruit, and vegetables while they’re growing helps identify any potential issues, which can have health and compliance implications as well as financial ones, early on – and prevent them from spreading. 
• During a harvest. Agreements with companies about food are often based on specific levels of moisture, protein, etc. To stay compliant, you need data. The more often and the more easily you can scan, the simpler it is to make sure you have accurate, reliable information. 
• Transportation. Sometimes you need to be able to scan food before it’s unloaded to ensure that it meets all the relevant requirements. Handheld, precise scanners make this seamless for all concerned. 
• Storage/elevators/etc. Storing any food comes with restrictions and responsibilities. Being able to monitor the levels of moisture in particular is very helpful to ensure the optimal results. 
• Pricing. Pricing for food is often dependent on the material composition of the food – something that’s easily assessed with an independent, accurate scan. 

The revolutionary aspect of these gadgets is that they combine accurate real-time results with on-site presence in the hands of any worker. That means that the data that is essential for effective food testing and safety is now readily available and democratized. 

Where laboratory methods typically required technical expertise, destructive sampling and enforced delays, handheld devices mean that those involved with food production at any stage have the ability to test, assess, and act. 

FAQs

Portable NIR spectrometers can be exceptionally easy and intuitive to use – SCIO’s handheld devices are proof of that. No matter how simple a device is, though, there are always some questions that come up frequently. Here are some that we hear from many people switching over from laboratory reliance to a NIR food analyzer:

What foods can SCIO’s devices measure?

There’s a wide range of foods that SCIO’s NIR spectrometers are very effective at analyzing, including fruits, berries, cheese, sweetcorn and more.

Can portable NIR spectrometers test mixed food products effectively?

• Yes, portable NIR spectrometers can test mixed food products effectively. SCIO builds calibration models with mixed foods such as forages. We are able to train these models to recognize the spectral signature that comes with these combinations and to associate that with its reference composition. 

How often do portable NIR spectrometers need calibration?

• With SCIO, calibration is no longer required. The sensor is highly robust and stable, ensuring consistent performance over time. After years of extensive field use and validation with the same sensor technology in the SCIO Cup, we have confirmed its high stability and reliability, eliminating the need for regular calibration.
• Additionally, for every device leaving the production line, a White Reference record is individually tested, verified, and stored in the cloud. This record serves as a permanent reference for all scans performed with that specific device, ensuring long term accuracy and consistency across measurements.
• We also encourage customers to perform a Self-Test periodically to verify that the device is functioning properly. During this process, the Self-Test compares the current White Reference scan with the original reference scan stored in the cloud, confirming that the device continues to perform within specification.

Is data secure when using portable NIR spectrometers?

• This depends on the spectrometer you’re using, how it is set up, and how it handles data. SCIO takes data security very seriously. We are SOC2 compliant, employ real-time monitoring systems, and have multi-layered encryption. Moreover, our customers have control over how they want their data to be used and where and how they want to store it or integrate it with their existing systems. 

Can NIR spectrometers be combined with other food testing tools?

• Yes, certainly, this is a common practice within the food industry. Many companies use NIR spectrometers for measuring moisture and protein, for example, and use other tools for identifying specific chemical components, or blemishes, or flagging contamination.

Do temperature or light affect NIR spectrometer food results?

• With regard to temperature, as long as the sample and device temperature are within the specifications of the calibration (something which is material dependent), the temperature will not impact the results. Outside of these specifications, the performance cannot be guaranteed. With regard to light, it is important to ensure that you are using the SCIO Cup with its black lid, when scanning outside.

If you have more questions that we haven’t covered in this article, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out!