Spectroscopy Unlocks Secrets to Pork
Researchers at McGill University in conjunction with Agriculture Canada and the pork industry have unveiled a new sophisticated new technique to determine which pieces of pork are the best in terms of quality.
Researchers at McGill University in conjunction with Agriculture Canada and the pork industry have unveiled a new sophisticated new technique to determine which pieces of pork are the best in terms of quality, texture and how moist they are – information that has evaded even the best butchers up until now.
The revolutionary technique, which uses spectroscopy to measure the wavelengths of reflected light that is released by certain individual pork cuts, was discovered by researchers to accurately determine the color, texture and water release of the meat.
“This is about giving industry workers better tools to do their job,” said Michael Ngadi, a member of the research team at McGill’s Department of Bioresource Engineering. “Computer-aided analysis of meat will result in higher-quality jobs, optimal production and exports that fit more closely with the target markets.”
According to Ngadi, although this research is new, it won’t be long before it leaves the laboratory and enters factories around the world. In addition, researchers also hope to be able to use this method to evaluate other aspects of meat quality which include marbling as well as fat content.
“We are currently looking for partners who will work with us to build a ready-to-use device for a commercial production line,” said Ngati.
Newsletter
Get essential updates on the latest spectroscopy technologies, regulatory standards, and best practices—subscribe today to Spectroscopy.
AI-Powered Raman with CARS Offers Laser Imaging for Rapid Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
July 15th 2025Chinese researchers have developed a cutting-edge cervical cancer diagnostic model that combines spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, CARS imaging, and artificial intelligence to achieve 100% accuracy in distinguishing healthy and cancerous tissue.
How Analytical Chemists Are Navigating DOGE-Driven Funding Cuts
July 14th 2025DOGE-related federal funding cuts have sharply reduced salaries, lab budgets, and graduate support in academia. Researchers view the politically driven shifts in priorities as part of recurring systemic issues in U.S. science funding during administrative transitions. The impact on Federal laboratories has varied, with some seeing immediate effects and others experiencing more gradual effects. In general, there is rising uncertainty over future appropriations. Sustainable recovery may require structural reforms, leaner administration, and stronger industry-academia collaboration. New commentary underscores similar challenges, noting scaled-back graduate admissions, spending freezes, and a pervasive sense of overwhelming stress among faculty, students, and staff. This article addresses these issues for the analytical chemistry community.
