Japan-based technology startup Sonofai has launched a new frozen tuna inspection device which can determine the fat content of frozen albacore tuna without cutting into the fish’s flesh, which lowers its value.
In a release about the news, Sonofai and Fujitsu, the company behind the technology the device uses, said that they had partnered with Ishida Tec Co. and Tokai University to launch the device, which will be brought to the Japanese market first.
The device, which is called SONOFAI T-01, uses Fujitsu's AI technology for ultrasound analysis, a core engine of the Fujitsu Kozuchi AI service.
"his enables an automated, highly accurate fat content assessment without the need for human visual inspection," Sonofai and Fujitsu said in a joint release. "Conventional methods of assessment rely on skilled workers visually inspecting thawed cross-sections of the tail, which is a labor-intensive, time-consuming process and prone to inconsistencies due to variations in individual judgment and a shortage of skilled personnel.”
The device can process a whole tuna in 12 seconds and can be operated by one person.
“By enabling rapid screening of large quantities of frozen tuna, the device reduces the burden on skilled workers, significantly improves the efficiency of the selection process, and contributes to reducing costs and addressing labor shortages," the release said. "It also allows for greater accuracy and reduces the opportunity cost of mislabeling the high-value, fatty 'bintoro' portions of the fish.”
