The use of correlation, association and regression to analyse processes and products

No single technique can solve all analytical issues in the food processing industries. However, modern instrumental techniques such as visible (Vis), near infrared (NIR), and mid infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, electronic noses (EN), electronic tongues (ET) and other sensors (e.g. temperature, pressure) combined with multivariate data analysis (MVA) have many advantages over chemical, physical and other classic instrumental methods of analysis. This chapter provides a general description of the methods and applications of regression analysis based on MVA used during the process analysis in the food industries. Most of the examples and applications given in this chapter are related with the use of infrared spectroscopy. However, the same basic principles can be applied to a different number of methods and instruments currently used by the food industry.