Portable spectroscopy for high throughput food authenticity screening: Advancements in technology and integration into digital traceability systems

Background: Increasing consumer demands for more information about the food we eat, in combination with a greater incidence of sophisticated food fraud cases, has resulted in the development and application of rapid, non-targeted and cost effective analytical methods. Vibrational spectroscopy equipment has evolved from bulky benchtop instruments to miniaturised sensors that have the capability of sensitive, real-time and on-site monitoring of food constituents. This has been driven by advances in semi-conductor and photonic technologies, and resulted in a plethora of commercialised, portable and handheld devices that can be used at various control points in food supply chains. Scope and approach: In this review, the recent technological advances in spectroscopic devices are explored and the development of commercially available devices for food authenticity analysis is discussed. Finally, the key challenges and potential of the integration of rapid analysis into digital traceability systems for food chain actors are outlined. Key findings and conclusions: Within the last five years there has been an increase in the development of methods utilising handheld and portable spectroscopy devices, in combination with chemometric analysis, for food authenticity and traceability verification. Full connectivity of food chains between growers, processors and retailers, validated by rapid and frequent analysis, has the potential to ensure food traceability in a systematic and cost-effective way. However, more focus is needed in this area to overcome current challenges.