Fast, accurate solution for herb and spice authentication

A newly launched food authentication technology is set to revolutionise the testing of herbs and spices, reducing the time needed for sample analysis from days to mere minutes. Developed by Belfast-based Bia Analytical in collaboration with Storm Reply, a cloud engineering company, the web-based portal offers a fast, accessible solution for verifying the authenticity of herbs and spices across the food supply chain.

Previously, food fraud testing was a lengthy process, often taking up to two weeks and limited to small sample sizes due to cost constraints. With this new platform, food testing laboratories, manufacturers, and retailers can now perform rapid, accurate analysis using Bia Analytical’s advanced scientific models. The portal integrates AI-powered modelling, chemometrics, and spectroscopy, instantly identifying authenticity and presenting results in easy-to-understand dashboards. Accessible via standard web browsers, it allows professionals across different locations to view the same data in real time.

The system also connects to handheld spectrometers, a portable service Bia Analytical introduced in 2024. This enables users to quickly screen herbs and spices, enhancing quality control and audit processes for government bodies, food manufacturers, and retailers. The cloud-based solution, built using Amazon Web Services (AWS), offers both speed and scalability, encouraging higher frequency and volume of testing.

According to Rachel Grunwerg from Storm Reply: “Food analysis is an industry in need of modernisation. It’s been rewarding working with Bia Analytical to digitise the testing process, providing significant benefits to the supply chain and consumers.”

Fraud in food supply chains, particularly in herbs and spices, is a growing issue. A 2021 EU study revealed that more than half of spice products tested contained undeclared plant materials, with oregano being the most affected. The new technology is also versatile, capable of being applied to a wide range of commodities like meat, fish, soybeans, cocoa, and coffee.

Bia Analytical’s CEO, Simon Cole, emphasised that faster, more frequent testing is essential for improving food safety and tackling the growing food fraud crisis. The platform is already in use for herb and spice testing and will soon be available for broader applications.

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