Scanning for freshness

Spectrometry — as it relates to food — is no longer reserved for scientists in lab coats. Growers, distributors and consumers will soon be able to measure the chemical makeup of food they eat (as well as many other objects) through a handheld mini spectrometer called SCiO.

SCiO, made by an Israeli technology company called Consumer Physics, has the ability to measure elements such as water, sugar content and more using a light sensor. Its Bluetooth component collects the relevant data and reports it in real-time through a mobile app interface.

“The information is now very granular and the use is very easy. We call it the marketization of technology,” says Yaron Dycian, vice president of products for Consumer Physics.

Using the consumer software, users can determine the nutritional facts, like makeup of carbohydrates, proteins and water, as well as sugar content measured in Brix.

It will also compare that piece of produce to a typical scale, Dycian says. For example, it will inform the user of what a “great” tomato’s Brix content is, along with a “mediocre” tomato’s Brix reading, so users can see where their tomato lies.

The idea of spectrometry isn’t new, Dycian says, but utilizing the science was limited due to a number of factors.

“The challenge is that spectrometers up to today were very expensive. These are tens of thousands of dollars per unit and they need to be operated by very well-trained people — by physicists or at least very well-trained lab technicians,” he says.

But Dycian claims the SCiO device has the same accuracy as a main frame spectrometer.

“From our perspective, this is a big deal. This is almost like main frame versus mobile phone. Main frames [are] really strong, excellent machines, expensive as you can imagine and non-portable. When the mobile phone came along, [we found that] you could do very similar things with the device in everyone’s pocket,” Dycian says.

SCiO has been trialed through multiple test groups around the globe, from leading grocery chains, to growers in Australia, as well as winemakers in France. It is now in the production phase.

Dycian also says SCiO’s affordability (it is set to be priced around a few hundred dollars) is another benefit for users across the supply chain.

“Now, with this small size and low cost, you can take the device and you can give it to people down the supply chain. So if I’m a truck driver bringing in the wheat into the receiving station, all I need to do is very easily take my SCiO and scan a few samples in the truck,” he says. “This information goes to my mobile phone, and can be sent anywhere now.”