The global market for tropical fruit is projected to grow more than 20% by 2029, and a study by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate student Jae-Eun “Jennie” Cha created a special test that can find five common tropical fruits all at once: mango, pineapple, avocado, banana and coconut. The test has proven 100% effective.
The method, called a “multiplex PCR assay,” can find allergy-causing ingredients in complicated food mixes and helps make sure food labels are correct and protects consumers from allergic reactions. The test identified the correct fruit species in the 32 commercial tropical fruit products it was tested on, matching the fruit labels every time.
The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) PhD student presented her research before a global audience of more than 30,000 food science professionals at the 2025 Institute of Food Technologists’ Annual Meeting in Chicago. Her work earned her first place and a $1,000 prize in the Division Graduate Student Oral Competition.
Cha’s winning research addresses the growing problem of food allergies, especially as more people around the world are eating tropical fruits. She’s been working on this study for the past 18 months.
“I was really nervous, and my presentation was on the first day, so during the whole flight, I think I was just practicing my presentation slides on the plane,” Cha said.
Cha was proud to represent CTAHR, the human nutrition program, and Soojin Jun’s food engineering lab at this international event.
