BELFAST-based food authentication-testing laboratory Bia Analytical it to roll out ground-breaking technology for meat authenticity analysis that will empower businesses to make quick decisions and provide additional confidence in the integrity of their products.
Developed over a 10-year period by Professor Chris Elliott and his team at the Institute for Global Food Security at Belfast's Queen’s University, the Ambient Mass Spectrometry (AMS) technique can not only can identify the species of meat, but identify the breed, where the meat was produced, whether or not it is organic, and its maturation and even eating quality.
All of these parameters contained in a single test is seen as represents a ground-breaking advance by Bia (www.bia-analytical.com).
Another considerable advantage of the AMS approach is the inclusion of a laser system eliminating the need for sample preparation and thus can deliver test results within minutes.
This pioneering work has been augmented by the application of artificial intelligence, which has increased the sensitivity and reliability of the testing system.
The challenges in the current fast-moving food supply chains means that suppliers, processors and retailers need better tools to guarantee supply chain integrity and to deliver safe and authentic foods to the consumer.
Professor Elliott said: “Food fraud is a multi-billion-pound criminal industry, so detection needs cutting edge science and technology.
“I’m delighted the pioneering working conducted within the Institute for Global Food Security by my research group is being implemented by Bia Analytical.
“We believe there is no other testing system in the world that is as powerful at detecting multiple types of food adulteration in one single and rapid test.”
The testing breakthrough by Bia Analytical comes in the wake of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), part of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), carrying out a major investigation after a UK supplier was allegedly passing off huge volumes of foreign pork as British as well as committing a series of food safety violations.
Bia Analytical, which started out as a Queen’s University spin-out in 2020, has developed industry-leading food authenticity testing methods that can help protect the entire food supply chain against food fraud and offer reassurance that food products have been tested with the best food authenticity detection methods possible.
Its state-of-the-art food laboratories in Belfast carry out accurate and rapid analysis of samples, with a guaranteed three working day turnaround time, to help reduce food business’ exposure to the risk of food fraud.
