The Pulsar Portable Detector Differentiates Between Horse Meat and Beef
Rahul Kalvapalle — December 2, 2014 — Lifestyle
The Pulsar is a portable detector that uses nuclear magnetic resonance technology to differentiate between horse meat and beef. The technology was developed in response to a scandal last year in Britain where horse meat was being passed off in beef and included in frozen beef burgers and lasagnas.
The brainchild of the Institute of Food Research in Norwich in partnership with Oxford Instruments, the portable detector is inexpensive, simple to use and can differentiate between horse meat and beef in only 10 minutes.
To operate the machine, a sample of fresh or thawed meat is put through a chloroform-based extraction technique. It is then inserted into the Pulsar portable detector, where magnetic resonance is used to obtain a signature of the meat's fats, before being recorded and analyzed by special software.
The brainchild of the Institute of Food Research in Norwich in partnership with Oxford Instruments, the portable detector is inexpensive, simple to use and can differentiate between horse meat and beef in only 10 minutes.
To operate the machine, a sample of fresh or thawed meat is put through a chloroform-based extraction technique. It is then inserted into the Pulsar portable detector, where magnetic resonance is used to obtain a signature of the meat's fats, before being recorded and analyzed by special software.
Trend Themes
1. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technology in Food Industry - The development of portable detectors using nuclear magnetic resonance technology presents opportunities for accurate and quick differentiation between different types of meat, preventing food fraud and ensuring product authenticity.
2. Food Authenticity and Traceability - The horse meat scandal in Britain has highlighted the need for improved food authenticity and traceability measures, creating opportunities for technologies like the Pulsar portable detector to enhance consumer confidence and trust in the food industry.
3. Rapid and Simple Testing Methods - The Pulsar portable detector's ability to differentiate between horse meat and beef in just 10 minutes, using a straightforward extraction technique, showcases the potential for rapid and simple testing methods that can be easily implemented in various industries, such as food production, quality control, and supply chain management.
Industry Implications
1. Food Technology - The development of nuclear meat detectors opens possibilities for enhancing food safety, ensuring product authenticity, and preventing food fraud in the food technology industry.
2. Agriculture and Livestock - The use of portable detectors for meat differentiation can benefit the agriculture and livestock industry by enabling more efficient and accurate quality control, improving consumer trust and the integrity of the supply chain.
3. Quality Control and Testing Services - Portable detectors like the Pulsar offer disruptive innovation opportunities in the quality control and testing services industry, providing faster and more reliable methods for verifying the authenticity and quality of food products.
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