Home / Science / AI Detects Adulterated Herbs in Seconds
AI Detects Adulterated Herbs in Seconds
4 Jul
Summary
- New system instantly verifies herb and spice authenticity.
- Combines chemical scanning with machine learning.
- Achieved 96% accuracy in detecting fakes.
A new model developed by scientists at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) can now instantly verify the authenticity of herbs and spices. This breakthrough technology combines advanced chemical scanning with machine learning algorithms. It can detect adulteration of essential food ingredients in less than a minute, a significant improvement over older, time-consuming methods.
The research focused on popular herbs and spices like basil, turmeric, and ashwagandha, which are increasingly targeted for adulteration due to their high market value and medicinal properties. The new system requires no sample preparation and operates at room temperature. It analyzes raw data to identify species-specific variations and structural anomalies caused by dilution.
Rigorous testing on varieties of basil, turmeric, and ashwagandha, including intentionally adulterated samples, demonstrated the system's effectiveness. It achieved a 96% accuracy, sensitivity, and reliability rate in identifying fake products. This digital test replaces older methods that took over an hour and required extensive chemical preparation, empowering food inspectors and manufacturers to combat food fraud.
