Pineapple quality measured with X-ray

The pineapple is one of the most important international products, with a production of 16 million ton every year. The quality of the fruit is very important and influences the price and the acceptance of consumers. But how is the quality of a pineapple is actually tested?

The USDA standards are based on the number of defects in 25 samples. The two categories of damage and decay are defined on the one hand, on internal quality defects, such as softenting and brown tissue and on external quality defects such as discolouration of the crown, the leaves, mechanical damage, cracks or damage by pests. U.S. Fancy requires that not more than 4 fruits from the 25 samples show these defects. The pineapples are controlled by cutting open the fruit and the internal state to observe.

It is also possible, however to test the quality of the fruit with X-ray equipment. As has damage to apples already been successfully detected X-ray. This was checked on the basis of the amount of water contained the apples, the quality of the pineapple is tested on the translucency. With the X-ray it can be detected if a pineapple is transparent and to what extent. The pineapple is exposed to the radiation for three minutes and then cut open in order to determine the translucency.

This photo shows the result of a number of samples, scaled from 1 to 5, in which number 1 was found to be not transparent, 2 to 25%, 3% between 25 and 50%, 4 between 50 and 75%, and number 5 is for more than 75% transparent.