UCC professor proposes mobile lab to combat food fraud – Nsemkeka
Professor of Food Integrity Engineering at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ernest Teye, has proposed the establishment of a mobile food integrity laboratory to help improve food safety detection onsite and reduce the incidence of food fraud in the country and sub-region.
The proposed mobile lab is a compact, bag-sized unit that combines a hand-held device with a well-tested algorithm capable of assessing both the authenticity and quality of food items in real time.
The portable device employs rapid, non-destructive and chemical-free technology, allowing for onsite testing without the need for a full laboratory setup.
Professor Teye explained that the innovation offered a safe, affordable and multi-purpose solution that could be used on various food products.
It is designed to assist regulators, producers, processors and exporters in verifying the integrity of food commodities at different points along the supply chain.
Visit, impact
Prof. Teye showcased the innovation during a presentation session with the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, who was on a working visit to the university.
Prof. Teye showcased the innovation during a presentation session with the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, who was on a working visit to the university.
The visit aimed to strengthen academic, industrial and research collaborations between UCC and institutions in the United Kingdom, especially in innovative research addressing societal challenges.
The UCC engineer mentioned that the mobile food integrity lab would be crucial in addressing the increasing prevalence of food adulteration, particularly in markets where laboratory infrastructure is inadequate or absent.
“The mobile lab will empower our food monitoring systems to act swiftly and effectively, especially in underserved areas,” he said.
Findings
Citing findings from recent studies, Prof. Teye revealed that up to 35 per cent of certain food products sampled from major markets were found to be adulterated.
These included honey, tomato paste, juice, turmeric, oregano, gari and vegetable oil.
Per his research conducted in 2022 showed that over 25 per cent of rice, powdered milk, honey, palm oil and tomato paste samples collected from urban markets failed food integrity tests.
“These are not isolated issues.
We are increasingly finding adulterated food items in both locally produced and imported products.
This mobile lab provides a proactive solution,” he stated.
As a general measure, he advised the public to consume food with shorter supply chains by eating local, and to support the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) by following its safety protocols.
He demonstrated the effectiveness of the technology using samples of palm oil, rice, turmeric powder, cocoa beans, pineapple and tomatoes.
Opportunities
Ms Thompson commended UCC for its commitment to practical, impact-driven research and reaffirmed the British High Commission’s support for continued partnerships with UK research institutions.
She further mentioned that there were enormous opportunities from UK-funded research programmes, which UCC could take advantage of, adding, “We will continue to support such meaningful partnerships.”