Real-time assessment of olive oil quality through the supply chain

橄榄油是欧盟最常见的掺假食品之一，而且在储存过程中容易降解，对其营养、健康和感官属性有潜在的损害。在这样一个脆弱的供应链中，围绕粮食安全也存在严重的人类健康问题。最近，据估计，多达80%的意大利特级初榨橄榄油在最好的情况下低于最低标准，在最坏的情况下是变质的。迫切需要开发实时监控技术，以提供橄榄油在整个供应链中的可追溯性。利用光分析橄榄油中发现的色素、维生素和酚类化合物，为通过供应链监测橄榄油质量的实时传感器的开发提供了潜力，确保了产品的真实性并提供了可追溯性。在这个创新英国项目中，液体视觉创新有限公司将对英国一家大型橄榄油生产商提供的一系列橄榄油样品进行详细的实验室研究，以确定开发用于在线橄榄油质量评估的传感器的光学元件的最佳选择。一个原型传感器也将被开发出来。这种传感器的商业应用有可能提高公众和零售商对特级初榨橄榄油的信心，并保护高质量的英国和国际生产商。该项目成果将适用于其他食用油的监测，并在食品和饮料行业具有更广泛的适用性。

Olive oil is one of the most frequently adulterated food products in the EU, as well as being susceptible to degradation during storage, with potential damage to its nutritional, health and sensory attributes. There are also serious human health concerns surrounding food security in such a vulnerable supply chain. Recently, it has been estimated that up to 80% of Italian extra virgin olive oil is at best below minimum standards and at worst fradulent. There is an urgent requirement for the development of real-time monitoring technology for providing traceability of olive oil through the supply chain. The use of light for analysing pigments, vitamins and phenolic compounds found in olive oil provides the potential for development of a real-time sensor for monitoring olive oil quality through the supply chain, assuring product authenticity and providing traceability. In this Innovate UK project, Liquid Vision Innovation Ltd. will carry out a detailed laboratory study of a range of olive oil samples provided by a large UK olive oil producer, in order to determine the optimum choice of optical components for development of a sensor for inline olive oil quality assessment. A prototype sensor will also be developed. The application of such a sensor commercially has the potential to improve public and retailer confidence in extra virgin olive oil and protect high quality UK and international producers. The project outcomes will be suitable for monitoring other edible oils, as well as having wider applicability in the food and drink industry.