Inspecto, an Israeli food-tech start-up, has launched a device that can detect chemical contamination in foods.

This portable scanner can detect chemicals at concentration levels, as required by regulatory authorities.

Inspecto CEO Avner Avidan said: “Our solution helps make food safer and cleaner, and ensures maximum transparency.

“We already are engaged in pilot projects with leading food companies wanting to take product safety assurance and traceability to the next level.

“Since each scan is conducted in real-time and the results are stored on the cloud, Inspecto can offer additional services to our customers that, until now, were impossible for them to implement. For example, it enables our customers to approve or reject a shipment on the spot based on the results, and they can even use blockchain to store their information more securely.”

In addition to saving time, the solution enables customers to avoid high-cost lab testing. It can scan products indoors and outdoors at any time.

To detect chemical contaminants, a sample is placed in a disposable capsule, inserted into the Inspecto device, and then activated with a press of a button. The device then scans the sample and processes it automatically within minutes. The result provides a quantified measurement of the chosen contaminant. Results are stored on the cloud, recorded and analysed in real time. Moreover, the device can be tuned to identify almost any chemical contaminant, liquid or solid.

Inspecto vice-president for business development Yair Moneta said: “We developed a portable device to ensure the safety of the product from farm-to-fork and help food manufacturers control their entire supply chains.

“It can disrupt the entire way contaminants are currently being tested, reducing the risk of recalls, food waste and potential lawsuits.”

“The advantage of Inspecto is the ability to identify and magnify the unique spectral fingerprint of each contaminant. Moreover, you can conduct multiple scans per day without waiting for the results or paying exorbitant lab costs.”