Food Drug Free

Development of a portable miniaturized technology platform for drug identification in food products.

Description

The project has developed a portable wireless technological platform consisting of multi-purpose sensor units that enable the identification and qualitative-quantitative in-field assessment of residues of pharmacologically active molecules in the following foods:

• Milk
• Honey
• Eggs.

The aim is their exclusion from the food chain.

Result to be enhanced

The project enables the simultaneous identification of molecules from different pharmacological classes using dedicated and simplified extraction methods, following the verification of the maximum residual limits required in matrices of significant importance in food production, such as milk, eggs, and honey.
The project enables the development of innovative analysis demonstrators that will significantly improve the processes of identifying contaminants in food matrices. In particular, these processes will be enhanced in terms of expanding their reach, making them more widespread and closer to the sampling point, allowing for a drastic reduction in waste (no cross-contamination with “clean” products), the rapid and accurate identification of contaminated samples, and, in general, greater safety and assurance for the entire transformation supply chain and, ultimately, for the consumer themselves.

Why is it important?

“The ability to perform a single test directly in the field for the detection of antibiotic residues represents a significant improvement for the company’s self-monitoring activities. The optical, electrical, and electrochemical analysis and identification methodology is also technically innovative due to its sensitivity characteristics, dynamic measurement range, selectivity, ease of use in outdoor conditions (outside a standard laboratory context and close to the sampling/collection points of food matrices), and cross-operability among different techniques, an element currently absent in the market. This will ensure greater reliability and robustness in the identification process.
The integration of analysis and verification tools with supply chain traceability tools will provide users of a given product with all the detailed and secure information regarding the product’s lifecycle. This outcome will be achieved through the use of a highly innovative paradigm: blockchain, which introduces a new concept of trust regarding transaction management, revising traditional supply chain logic.
The measurement tool targeted by the project, for which demonstrators will be built, will thus enable continuous and widespread monitoring, where possible, of raw materials during the production process, in order to enhance and improve the current data detection and processing system in terms of:

• Control
• Prevention
• Targeted intervention
• Well-being
• Quality
• Competitiveness

The result, shared with end users, will be a more accurate and specific quantification of measurements with positive implications for safety. The speed and simplicity of the method will translate into increased efficiency, leading to cost reduction and greater competitiveness. A noteworthy aspect is the safety it provides for all operators (both in the laboratory and “in the field”).
The system is safe in terms of compatibility with the working environment.”