Non-targeted NIR spectroscopy and SIMCA classification for commercial milk powder authentication: A study using...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Milk powder (MP) adulteration poses a significant risk to consumer health and market integrity.
• Rapid and reliable detection methods are crucial for quality control in the food industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a non-targeted detection method for identifying adulterants in commercial milk powder.
• To evaluate the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modeling for MP authentication.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy with two benchtop instruments and one handheld device.
• Developed and validated SIMCA (Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy) classification models.
• Tested models against genuine MP samples and gravimetrically prepared mixtures with eleven adulterants.

Main Results:

• Benchtop FT-NIR spectrometers achieved 100% sensitivity in classification models.
• Specificity varied with adulterant type but was generally better with benchtop instruments.
• The handheld NIR device showed limitations due to lower spectral resolution and a narrower spectral range.

Conclusions:

• FT-NIR spectroscopy combined with SIMCA modeling is a promising tool for the rapid screening of milk powder authenticity.
• This approach can effectively detect known and unknown adulterants, aiding in quality assurance.
• Further development may enhance the performance of handheld NIR devices for this application.