TITLE:
Feasibility Study for Applying Spectral Imaging for Wheat Grain Authenticity Testing in Pasta
AUTHORS:
Timothy Wilkes, Gavin Nixon, Claire Bushell, Adrian Waltho, Amer Alroichdi, Malcolm Burns
KEYWORDS:
Spectral Imaging, Multispectral Imaging, Hyperspectral Imaging, Durum Wheat Authentication, Rapid Non-Destructive Testing, Food Adulteration
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.7 No.5,
April
28,
2016
ABSTRACT: Authentication of pasta is currently determined using molecular biology-based techniques focusing
on DNA as the target analyte. Whilst proven to be effective, these approaches can be criticised
as being destructive, time consuming, and requiring specialist instrument training. Advances in
the field of multispectral imaging (MSI) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) have facilitated the development
of compact imaging platforms with the capability to rapidly differentiate a range of
materials (inclusive of grains and seeds) based on surface colour, texture and chemical composition.
This preliminary investigation evaluated the applicability of spectral imaging for identification
and quantitation of durum wheat grain samples in relation to pasta authenticity. MSI and HSI
were capable of rapidly distinguishing between durum wheat and adulterant common wheat cultivars
and assigning percentage adulteration levels characterised by low biases and good repeatability
estimates. The results demonstrated the potential for spectral imaging based seed/grain
adulteration testing to augment existing standard molecular approaches for food authenticity
testing.