Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and partial least squares regression for rapid and reagentless determination of Enterobacteriaceae on chicken fillets

Bacterial pathogens are the main culprits for outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. This study aimed to use the hyperspectral imaging technique as a non-destructive tool for quantitative and direct determination of Enterobacteriaceae loads on chicken fillets. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were established and the best model using full wavelengths was obtained in the spectral range 930–1450 nm with coefficients of determination R2 ⩾ 0.82 and root mean squared errors (RMSEs) ⩽0.47 log10 CFU g−1. In further development of simplified models, second derivative spectra and weighted PLS regression coefficients (BW) were utilised to select important wavelengths. However, the three wavelengths (930, 1121 and 1345 nm) selected from BW were competent and more preferred for predicting Enterobacteriaceae loads with R2 of 0.89, 0.86 and 0.87 and RMSEs of 0.33, 0.40 and 0.45 log10 CFU g−1 for calibration, cross-validation and prediction, respectively. Besides, the constructed prediction map provided the distribution of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria on chicken fillets, which cannot be achieved by conventional methods. It was demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging is a potential tool for determining food sanitation and detecting bacterial pathogens on food matrix without using complicated laboratory regimes.