This work proposes an analytical method for cereal bar classification based on the use of near infrared spectroscopy
(NIRS) and supervised pattern recognition techniques. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is
employed to build a classification model on the basis of a reduced subset of variables (wavenumbers). For
the purpose of variable selection, three techniques are considered, namely successive projection algorithm
(SPA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and stepwise (SW) formulation. The methodology is validated in a case
study involving the classification of 121 cereal bar samples into three different types (conventional, diet
and light). The results show that the LDA/GA model is superior to the LDA/SPA and LDA/SW models with respect
to classification accuracy in an independent prediction set. Some advantages of the proposed method
are speed, that the analytical measurement is performed quickly (one minute or less per sample), no reagents,
low sample consumption and minimum sample preparation demands. In view of the results obtained
in this study the proposed method may be considered valid for use in cereal bar classification