NIT Rourkela Reveals Smart IoT Device to Monitor Food Quality in Real-Time

NIT Rourkela’s breakthrough IoT technology enhances food safety and stability.

Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed a breakthrough Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled device that is primarily designed to monitor food quality in real-time. Designed in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the device has state-of-the-art colorimeter that tracks changes in color and temperature, offering a cost-effective solution for calculating the stability of food ingredients, especially oleo gels, which is considered as a healthier alternative to solid fats used in processed foods.

Solid fats used in canned and processed food provide texture and stability but often contain harmful trans and saturated fats linked to heart disease and obesity. Whereas Oleo gels, which turn liquid oils into gel-like structures using plant-based additives, provides a promising replacement.

Currently used methods for analyzing oleo gel stability are expensive and require specialized lab equipment and skilled specialists. In contrast, the new smart device provides an accessible, real-time alternative by detecting the color variations during crystallization. With IoT integration, it enables remote monitoring, automated analysis, and data logging, making it valuable for both research and industrial applications.

Apart from oleo gels, the device can also be used to assess the freshness of dairy, bakery, confectionery, and plant-based meat products, which leads the way for safer, more reliable food production worldwide.