New Technology to Cut Campylobacter Detection Time

Scientists in the US have developed an imaging technique which they claim reduces the time taken to detect the presence of campylobacter in food products.

The hyperspectral imaging technique can identify the pathogen in 24 hours compared with traditional methods, which take up to a week, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service said.

The technology combines digital imaging with spectroscopy to provide hundreds of individual wavelength measurements for each image pixel.

The microorganisms that are grown on solid media carry unique spectral fingerprints in the specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the team said.

The hyperspectral imager identifies the fingerprints by measuring light waves that bounce off or through these objects, according to foodproductiondaily.com.