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Paper-based dots and smartphone for detecting counterfeit country eggs
Rohitraj Ray1, Ayush Goyal2, Anusha Prabhu3
1Microfluidics, Sensors and Diagnostics (µSenD) Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India; Department of BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE), Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, CV Raman Rd, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560012, India.
This study introduces paper-based devices to quickly detect fake country eggs coated in tea within 5 minutes. A smartphone app aids in identifying counterfeit eggs, revolutionizing food fraud analysis.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biosensors
Background:
- Food fraud, specifically the misrepresentation of egg origins, poses a significant challenge to consumers and regulatory bodies.
- Traditional methods for detecting egg adulteration can be time-consuming and require specialized equipment.
- Tea-coating is a deceptive practice used to make broiler eggs resemble more expensive country eggs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid, cost-effective, and accessible method for differentiating original country eggs from tea-coated broiler eggs.
- To employ paper-based devices leveraging the chemical properties of tea phenols for detection.
- To integrate a smartphone application for objective and user-friendly analysis.
Main Methods:
- Development of paper-based devices utilizing precipitation and de-coloration reactions of tea phenols.
- Application of the devices to detect counterfeit eggs within 5 minutes.
- Utilizing a smartphone application ('Eggo') for image analysis of the detection spots.
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for surface characterization.
Main Results:
- The paper-based devices successfully differentiated between original country eggs and tea-coated broiler eggs.
- Distinct visual cues (precipitation and de-coloration) were observed, indicating the presence of tea coating.
- The 'Eggo' smartphone application demonstrated capability in detecting these visual changes, reducing subjectivity.
- FTIR analysis provided insights into the chemical changes on the eggshell surface.
Conclusions:
- Paper-based devices offer a promising, rapid, and simple solution for detecting tea-coated eggs.
- The integration of a smartphone application enhances the objectivity and accessibility of the detection method.
- This technology has the potential to significantly impact food fraud analysis and ensure consumer protection.
