The need of MYCOSPEC project
The novel MYCOSPEC technology aims rapid on-site detection of mycotoxins, and will ensure that larger volumes of the foodstuffs can be probed, sensitively detected, and quantified.
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxic chemical products produced by fungi that infect food crops in the field or after harvest and thus pose a threat to human and animal health through the ingestion of food products prepared from these commodities.
The MYCOSPEC goal
The MYCOSPEC project aims to develop an innovative tool for the rapid on-site diagnosis of fungal mycotoxins at the surface of foods or in liquid foodstuffs.
The Background
Mycotoxins are toxins produced by fungi that infest food crops and processed foods. Food contaminated with mycotoxins can cause both acute and long-term illness. The high potential danger of mycotoxins to humans and livestock forces to have strict regulatory controls and makes foodstuff buyers to increasingly demand more rigorous and timely food safety testing
The Project
The MYCOSPEC project aims to develop an innovative tool based on infrared spectroscopic fingerprinting techniques for rapid on-site mycotoxin detection in food crops and processed foods.
The Solution
The high information content of infrared spectroscopic analysis combined with multivariate calibration and data classification will provide a novel approach for rapid, high-throughput monitoring of plant main components obtaining rapid information on crop quality and safety essential for screening systems in the food and feed sector.
