Portable food diagnostic devices and methods: A review

Abstract

AbstractThe instantaneous detection of food quality is of paramount importance as it can help in taking different decisions in real time. These include the decision on consumption, inventory management, maintaining the storage conditions and even to repurpose the food if it cannot be used for the desired application. In this review, different portable food diagnostic devices and methods are studied and compared as consumers are interested in knowing the food's quality before consumption. The quality of food in real‐time will help in avoiding many problems such as the consumption of unsafe food and taking prompt decisions to avoid wastage in the food supply chain. Portable food diagnostic devices provide advantages such as easy to use, compact, handheld, connectivity with smartphone for rapid diagnosis, as well as these devices have the potential to eliminate traditional method problems such as the requirement of a trained user, bulky equipment, and lengthy diagnosis procedure. In this study, different types of portable food diagnostic devices and methods are compared in terms of their working principle, features, applications, and limitations. These devices are classified in three main categories, as composition analysis, safety, and security based on application. Further these devices are subclassified in single/multiple composition analysis devices, toxic, allergen detecting devices, and methods. Portable food diagnostic devices and methods provide a rapid and on‐site diagnosis. However, the success of these devices depends upon their accuracy, simplicity, and cost‐effectiveness.Practical ApplicationsThe study provides comparative analysis of different portable food diagnostic devices, which help in selecting an appropriate device in terms of its accuracy, size and cost suitable under different supply chain scenarios. This will ultimately help in decision making required for minimizing the food losses. These devices will benefit farmers, suppliers, retailers, and operators in food processing industries. The individual users can also use these devices to manage the food quality. The study also provides the limitations of exiting devices and the need of new research for developing more compact devices measuring multiple constituents in the food in a precise and cost‐effective manner.