Rapid Determination of Spinal Cord Content in Ground Beef by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT: The potential of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to measure spinal cord in ground beef was investigated. Mid‐infrared spectra were obtained for ground beef adulterated with 0 to 100 ppm spinal cord. Partial least squares models were developed using 400 to 4000 cm ‐1 . The model in the 400 to 4000 cm‐1 range showed a calibration of R cal l= 0.94 (RMSE = 11.24) and validation of R val = 0.87 (RMSE = 17.22). The P‐O‐C and N‐H stretches were found to correlate positively with spinal cord content. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has the potential to rapidly determine spinal cord adulteration in ground beef.