UK research reveals breakthrough in gluten

PUBLISHED ON July 31, 2023

LEXINGTON, Ky. — More and more people are experiencing gluten intolerance and celiac disease, which has led to a higher demand for gluten-free products in the market. However, ensuring these products are truly gluten-free can be challenging, especially when cross-contamination occurs during harvesting, manufacturing or packaging. Even tiny traces of gluten in gluten-free products can have serious health consequences for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.

To tackle this issue, researchers at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment conducted a study, published in MDPI’s journal Sustainability, to find a solution.

The study focused on rapidly detecting and measuring wheat (gluten) flour contamination in gluten-free cornbread using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. This technique uses infrared light absorption at different wavelengths to identify a sample’s organic and inorganic compounds. Additionally, the researchers incorporated machine learning techniques to assist in identifying and quantifying the wheat flour contamination in cornbread.

“Allergen contamination is a very common occurrence in the food industry,” said Akinbode Adedeji, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering associate professor and principal investigator. “The threshold is very slim for those with gluten intolerance. We wanted to find a rapid method to quickly determine if gluten contamination exists.”

Using corn flour and wheat flour, Adedeji and Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering masters student, Abuchi Okeke, prepared 13 different cornbread samples, each with varying levels of wheat flour contamination. They then used an FTIR spectrometer with a special diamond accessory to analyze these samples. Before conducting the machine learning analysis, they preprocessed the collected spectra using the Savitzky-Golay smoothing algorithm, a digital signal processing technique used for data noise reduction, and the first derivative transformation. Derivative transformation helps distinguish between the spectra of different samples, so clustering them can be easier with the machine learning model.

“The combination of FTIR spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms proved to be highly effective in detecting and measuring wheat flour contamination in gluten-free cornbread with impressive accuracy,” Adedeji said. “Even at very low contamination levels, as little as 0.5%, the model could precisely identify the presence of wheat flour in raw and baked cornmeal. The accuracy improved as the level of contamination increased.”

The study also found that ensemble learning algorithms, a technique combining multiple machine learning models, further enhanced accuracy, outperforming individual machine learning methods.

A significant discovery from the research was identifying the K-nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithm as the most promising approach to quantify the amount of wheat flour contamination in gluten-free cornbread. The kNN algorithm predicts the contamination level of an unknown sample by comparing it to the closest examples in the dataset. Another study milestone contribution was the development of an open-source UK app called “Glutini” that can analyze FTIR data collected from contaminated products to detect and quantify gluten in real-time.

Adedije said the implications of this study are far-reaching, particularly for the food industry and manufacturers of gluten-free products. The combination of FTIR spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms provides a reliable and efficient way to ensure the safety and quality of gluten-free products, thereby protecting individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease from potential health risks.

“By utilizing machine learning algorithms to analyze large datasets and identify hidden patterns, food safety inspections and quality assessments can be significantly improved in accuracy and efficiency,” he said. “This research is a significant step forward in providing consumers safer and higher-quality gluten-free options.”

–Jordan Strickler, University of Kentucky

CLEMSON, S.C. — Gluten is a group of proteins found in some cereal grains, most notably wheat. While foods containing gluten are part of a healthy diet for people across the globe, these proteins can be detrimental for people with certain food intolerances. To help people with gluten sensitivities or intolerances be better able to […]

WASHINGTON — Sorghum bran, often a low-cost byproduct of sorghum milling, can enhance gluten-free bread’s nutritional value without compromising its flavor, according to a study published in the Journal of Food Science. While gluten-free foods are in demand to meet consumers’ medical needs and dietary preferences, these foods sometimes are deficient in nutrients and lack taste and […]

STILLWATER, Okla. — As Oklahomans start a new year with new nutrition goals and eating habits, they’re faced with an overwhelming amount of industry diet terms and food lingo. Experts from the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at Oklahoma State University clarified some of the most common references. Organic The difference between conventional […]

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Using a modified, lower temperature mashing procedure to retain enzyme activity, brewers can use malts from gluten-free grains to produce high-quality beers, according to Penn State researchers who conducted a new study. The research promises to result in brewers using gluten-free grains such as teff, sorghum, rice, millet, corn and buckwheat […]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BUSINESS WIRE) — Cornbread Hemp, a USDA-certified organic CBD brand, is challenging the CBD industry by introducing its Flower-Only™ full spectrum CBD product line in a new video, timed for National CBD Day on August 8. This family-owned CBD startup takes aim at America’s biggest CBD brands by offering consumers a higher quality […]