Mini labs for lightning-fast food inspections
"This is a real game changer for the quality assurance of products of all kinds"
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Rancid nuts in chocolate, undetected mold in production: quality defects are an enormous risk for food manufacturers - from expensive recalls to loss of image. Current testing methods are often slow and expensive. The SENT-GC-MOS research project will be presenting a pioneering solution at the Innovation Day for SMEs organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on 11 June 2026 in Berlin: Portable gas chromatography detectors that test food for spoilage on site in a matter of seconds and at low cost.
The collaboration between the Fraunhofer IVV and Saarland University has developed a system development tool (SENT) that enables the simple implementation of miniaturized gas chromatography systems.
The result: "OxiVOC-GC", a handy analysis device that solves two central problems:
1. early detection of rancidity: it detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fat oxidation even before people notice the rancid smell.
2. differentiation of mould infestation: The device detects mould and reliably distinguishes it from fat oxidation.
The system works contact-free, uses purified air and delivers precise results immediately with the help of highly sensitive semiconductor gas sensors, which brings benefits for industry and consumers: the technology not only ensures food quality and reduces waste, but also increases food safety for end consumers. The findings are also transferable to other mobile VOC analysis systems in other sectors, which opens up new market opportunities for component and measuring system manufacturers.
Measurement engineer Professor Andreas Schütze and his team at Saarland University are experts in gas sensor systems. "In this case, we have developed a compact and cost-effective sensor system that quickly and demonstrably reliably determines the quality of nuts and other oilseeds. Previously, such technical laboratory analyses were complex and expensive due to the high demands on sensitivity and selectivity of the measuring systems, meaning that companies were essentially reliant on random odor assessments by human experts for quality monitoring. Small and medium-sized companies in particular can benefit from the new gas sensor system to ensure the consistent quality of their products and at the same time reduce production and development costs," explains Andreas Schütze.
Dr. Tilman Sauerwald, scientist at the Fraunhofer IVV adds: "With the demonstrator that has been implemented, hazelnuts can be tested for quality and their ageing can be determined, all without a great deal of time being required - a major step forward for the quality assurance of confectionery manufacturers. The highlight of this process, however, is that we can develop it further at any time for a wide range of applications, for example to test the freshness of other foods or the quality of recycled plastic. This is a real game changer for the quality assurance of products of all kinds."
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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