Advanced applications of hyperspectral imaging technology for food quality and safety analysis and assessment: A review — Part I: Fundamentals

By integrating two classical optical sensing technologies of imaging and spectroscopy into one system, hyperspectral imaging can provide both spatial and spectral information, simultaneously. Therefore, hyperspectral imaging has the capability to rapidly and non-invasively monitor both physical and morphological characteristics and intrinsic chemical and molecular information of a food product in the purpose of quality and safety analysis and assessment. As the first part of this review, some fundamental knowledge about hyperspectral imaging is reviewed, which includes the relationship between spectroscopy, imaging, and hyperspectral imaging, principles of hyperspectral imaging, instruments for hyperspectral imaging, processing methods for data analysis, and discussion on advantages and disadvantages. It is anticipated that real-time food monitoring systems with this technique can be expected to meet the requirements of the modern industrial control and sorting systems in the near future.