AAbstract | The most important issue among Muslim consumers is whether meat products from halal species have not been mixed with similar material from a cheaper non-halal species. In the Middle East and other Islamic countries, especially in East Asia, halal certification has been made mandatory for all meat and meat based imported food products. Muslim consumers are concerned about a number of issues concerning meat and meat products such as pork substitution, undeclared blood plasma, and use of prohibited ingredients, pork intestine casings and non-halal methods of slaughter. Since the measured parameters are usually present in meat samples and other food constituents regardless of the animal species, it is difficult to get unambiguous results, so that it is necessary to develop robust and highly discriminant data analysis models. Therefore, the need for a non-destructive character, simple or no sample preparation, easy handling, quick analyses, simultaneous determination of different analytes and the possibility to use optical fibres is of great importance .Use of NIR in combination with chemometric analysis can be a rapid initial screening method for revealing meat composition and detecting accidental contaminations or fraudulent practices; however, this strategy should be combined with more costly methods to prevent ambiguities and to assure an efficient control all along the food chain. |