Design and Development of a Borax Detection Device in Packaged Bread Using TCS3200 Color Sensor for Halal Product Verification

Abstract

Borax is a hazardous chemical additive that is still occasionally found in food products such as packaged bread. Prolonged consumption of borax can cause serious health risks, including cancer, nerve damage, genetic mutations, and birth defects. From a halal perspective, borax is considered haram (forbidden) due to its harmful nature and lack of health benefits, making its presence in food a violation of halal principles. Ensuring the halal and thayyib (wholesome) status of food products is crucial for Muslim consumers, and this includes the absence of harmful or toxic substances. This study aims to design and test a device for detecting the presence of borax in packaged bread using a TCS3200 color sensor integrated with an Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller. The working principle is based on the change in RGB values of a sample after being treated with a borax detection reagent. The device measures the RGB values to identify possible borax contamination. Experimental results showed an increase in RGB values from the first to the fifth drop of borax, followed by a decrease from the sixth to the tenth drop. These inconsistencies were influenced by several factors, including sample characteristics, surface area, ambient light intensity, and the distance between the sensor and the object. In conclusion, the prototype device has not yet achieved consistent and reliable borax detection performance. Further improvements are needed, particularly in sensor calibration, lighting control, and signal stability. However, this tool shows promising potential to be developed into a practical, low-cost, and user-friendly system that not only enhances food safety but also supports halal assurance systems by enabling early detection of non-halal contaminants such as borax in food products.