Using a PC to determine food safety
The food safety is very important for the whole world and it ensures that the food reaching our plates is not harmful to us or our family. The main culprit behind the major of food poisoning cases is a bacteria called E.Coli. This bacteria is already present in our stomachs but very small quantities and helps in the digestion process. However, contaminated food contains enormous amounts of E.Coli and hence testing a food sample for any signs of E.Coli is the basic measure we can take against consuming harmful food.
The researchers have come up with a device, that is essentially a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), that can detect the presence of harmful bacteria in the given food sample including E.Coli. The device uses bio-luminance methods to detect the presence of bacteria in the food sample. And this technology can be paired with a PC or laptop to send the recorded data through the means of Bluetooth. The device can also transmit the test data to the mobile.
The process of detecting the bacteria using bioluminescent methods
The process is very simple for detecting the presence of bacteria in the given food sample. The contaminated piece of food is thoroughly cleaned and then incubated with a phage, which is a virus that infects the bacteria. Once the phage has incubated, when a substrate is added the bacteria emit light and this light is detected by the SiPM device.
The data recorded by the silicon photomultiplier device can be transmitted to the PC or mobile over Bluetooth. This method is revolutionary as it is more accurate and we can monitor the data through easily available interfaces and it’s faster and less harmful than the existing food testing measures.
The technology is in the development stage
The researchers are still working on this new piece of technology and some more development works are needed before the technology can be patented. Value Market Research released their market report on new food safety testing market identifying the growing trends in the market. The scientists are working on advancing the stage where the device can transmit the data to a computer or mobile and they are working on increasing the level of monitoring that can be performed through these devices.
Anay Malhotra a qualified computer analyst turned freelancer who writes for Value News where his passion and hard work has earned him a Star Employee for 2 consecutive months. He has been working and exploring varied professionals like Modelling, Event Management and Writing.