e-nose that sniffs out rotten fruits, meat

Innovative e-nose detects food spoilage using AI, revolutionizing quality control in food industry, developed by Yenugu Veera Manohara Reddy.

Here is an electronic nose, e-nose, that can detect and pick out rotten fruits and meat from large stocks, preventing the rot from spreading to the entire consignment.

The e-nose, developed using Artificial Intelligence (AI), can detect subtle changes in the chemical composition of food products and identify food decay. According to one of its inventors, Yenugu Veera Manohara Reddy, assistant professor in chemistry at the New Delhi-based Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, it can be a potential game-changer in the food processing, packaging, warehousing, and transportation industries.

The sensors in the e-nose sniff out the volatile compounds emitted by the food products, the first sign of spoilage. The AI technology within the device analyses the chemical signature of the odour by comparing it with the database and identifies the items that are no longer fit for consumption.

“This rapid and non-invasive detection method is revolutionizing the way food quality control is conducted,” Mr. Reddy told The Hindu. The NTNU has applied for a patent for the product, after which it will be commercialised, he said.

The collaborative article was published in the November 2024 issue of the renowned science journal Sensors and Actuators B and featured in science magazines like Norwegian SciTech News and Electronics Weekly.

Mr. Reddy adds that the technology allows for early detection of spoilage, thus enabling timely removal of damaged items from the supply chain. It also protects public health and reduces the risk of contaminated products reaching consumers.

After completing his PhD in chemistry from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, specialising in material chemistry, electrochemistry and energy storage applications, he did his postdoctoral study at Chung Ang University of South Korea, where he was part of the project to develop MXene-based nano biosensors for the detection of influenza virus.