Web-based colorimetric sensing for food quality monitoring

The work presented in this paper outlines a novel technique for remote food quality control over the internet by using web based image processing. The colour change of a colorimetric sensor was captured with a wireless camera and the data was transmitted to a PC, which uploaded the information to the web. A software system for colour analysis was developed to process the data locally. Quantitative colour information which reflects the quality of the food product can be deduced remotely using this technique. This novel technique was applied to the monitoring of fish spoilage in packaged fish. The on-package sensors detected the release of spoilage products, typically the amines, from the fish and gave a visible colour change which was captured by the wireless camera. The colour information obtained through the web, when processed remotely using the in-house developed software, accurately reflected the state of the product. This technology reduces the labour requirements in food quality monitoring and can be applied to all colorimetric sensors.