Hyperspectral Imaging and Other Nondestructive Methods for Analyzing Food Quality

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Analytical Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 November 2025 | Viewed by 529

Special Issue Editor

School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: hyperspectral imaging; electronic nose; food quality; deep learning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hyperspectral imaging and other nondestructive methods are revolutionizing food quality analysis by enabling precise, real-time assessment without compromising product integrity. Hyperspectral imaging, which captures both spatial and spectral data, allows for detailed analysis of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of food.

Hyperspectral imaging and other nondestructive methods are particularly valuable for detecting contaminants, identifying damage or defects, detecting adulteration, distinguishing between varieties or quality grades, monitoring ripeness, assessing shelf life, and performing the quantitative analysis of food composition, all while preserving the sample for further use. Advanced machine learning and deep learning algorithms enhance the accuracy and efficiency of data interpretation, enabling rapid decision-making in quality control and supply chain management. By integrating these technologies, the food industry can ensure higher standards of safety, reduce waste, and meet consumer demands for transparency and sustainability.

Applications of hyperspectral imaging and nondestructive methods span across various stages of food production, from farm to table. They are used to optimize agricultural practices, improve processing efficiency, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This interdisciplinary approach not only enhances food quality but also drives innovation in the industry, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable food systems.

Dr. Jun Sun
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • food quality
  • nondestructive detection
  • hyperspectral imaging
  • spectral analysis
  • sensory sensing
  • chemometrics
  • machine learning

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 8637 KiB  
Article
Quality Assessment of Prune Jam with Different Concentration Methods Based on Physicochemical Properties, GC-IMS, and Intelligent Sensory Analysis
by Rui Yang, Langhan Zhao, Wei Wang, Qingping Du, Wei Li, Tongle Sun and Shihao Huang
Foods 2025, 14(12), 2084; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14122084 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 361
Abstract
This study systematically investigated the impacts of four concentration methods—vacuum freezing concentration (VFC), microwave vacuum concentration (MVC), atmospheric thermal concentration (ATC), and vacuum thermal concentration (VTC)—on the quality and volatile compounds of prune jam. Advanced analytical techniques, including electronic tongue, electronic nose, gas [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigated the impacts of four concentration methods—vacuum freezing concentration (VFC), microwave vacuum concentration (MVC), atmospheric thermal concentration (ATC), and vacuum thermal concentration (VTC)—on the quality and volatile compounds of prune jam. Advanced analytical techniques, including electronic tongue, electronic nose, gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), and multivariate statistical methods (principal component analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis), were employed to evaluate physicochemical properties and flavor profiles. Results showed that non-thermal methods (particularly VFC) significantly outperformed thermal methods (ATC/VTC) in nutrient preservation. For instance, VFC retained 91.4% of ascorbic acid and limited dietary fiber loss to 4.55%, while ATC caused up to 60.1% ascorbic acid degradation and 51.75% dietary fiber loss. In terms of color stability, VFC induced a 1.04-fold increase in browning index (BI) and a 2.54-fold increase in total color difference (ΔE), significantly lower than ATC’s 1.6-fold BI increase and 7.26-fold ΔE rise. GC-IMS identified 42 volatile compounds, categorized into aldehydes (17), alcohols (9), esters (7), etc. Multivariate analysis screened 15 key flavor compounds (VIP > 1, p < 0.05), such as ethyl acetate and methanol, revealing that non-thermal methods better preserved the characteristic sweet–sour flavor and reduced off-flavor formation. These findings highlight VFC’s superiority in maintaining nutritional and sensory quality, providing scientific guidance for industrial jam production and flavor optimization in fruit processing. Full article
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