Portable NIR and HSI Technologies for Honey Authentication: A Non-Destructive Approach to Detect Food Fraud

Near-infrared (NIR) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technologies have gained prominence in food analysis, particularly for ensuring authenticity and quality control. This study focuses on their application in honey authentication, aiming to detect adulteration with cheaper sugars and verify botanical origin. Portable NIR and HSI devices were tested, evaluating different measurement modes and configurations. The results indicate that transmittance and transflectance modes are the most suitable for NIR analysis, while HSI benefits from controlled lighting conditions. These findings highlight the potential of these technologies in regulatory control and industry applications.