Oak Analytics bagged the top award for its low-cost technology to detect food adulteration at the World Food India event. It is a start-up that has been mentored and supported by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The start-up awards which have been instituted by the Ministry of Food Processing in collaboration with CII and Yes Bank, attracted 150 applications. Oak Analytics received the first prize in the Start-Up Award at the valedictory function of the three-day conference.
While the current solutions to tackle food fraud rely on expensive and time-consuming laboratory testing, Oak Analytics aims to offer a low-cost, advanced and non-invasive technology in the form of a hand-held device to check on food adulteration.
It is based on the discovery by Indian Nobel laureate Dr. CV Raman. The start-up has combined spectral analysis with artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to move expensive laboratory testing into the field for instant molecular authentication.
The company conducted hundreds of verification tests at FSSAI-approved labs and major industry partners. Oak Analytics’ device named RAMAN, is expected to provide food safety inspectors and brands an instant method for testing of products for adulteration and counterfeiting.
FSSAI plans on collaborating with innovators in various areas of food safety to address key areas such as food testing, nutrition, food labelling among others.