BOOK OF ABSTRACTS - 4th International Symposium on RECENT ADVANCES IN FOOD ANALYSIS (RAFA)

Recent Advances in Food Analysis: Conference Overview

Význam tématu

Advances in analytical chemistry are critical to ensuring the safety, quality and authenticity of food in an increasingly global market. High-throughput, sensitive and selective methods are needed to detect contaminants, allergens, adulterants and nutritional markers at trace levels. Continuous innovation in separation science, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy and bioanalytical assays addresses emerging challenges from farm to fork.

Cíle a přehled studie / článku

This Book of Abstracts summarizes the 4th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (Prague, Nov 4–6, 2009). Organized by leading academic and research institutes, it brings together vendor seminars, oral presentations and poster contributions. Topics include multidimensional chromatography, high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometry, ambient ionization, immunochemical assays, biosensors, spectroscopy and isotopic techniques, as well as regulatory perspectives and future directions.

Použitá metodika a instrumentace

• Comprehensive GC×GC coupled with time-of-flight MS for complex mixture profiling (flavours, pesticides, oil contaminants).
• LC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS workflows for multi-residue pesticide, veterinary drug, mycotoxin and processing contaminant analysis.
• Ambient MS (DART), PTR-MS and high-resolution Orbitrap and TOF platforms for rapid screening of unknowns and emerging contaminants.
• Immunoassays and lateral flow devices (ELISA, RIDA®, RIDA®QUICK, Evidence Biotech biochips) for allergens, mycotoxins and pathogens.
• Vibrational spectroscopy (NIR, MIR, Raman), NMR and electronic noses for quality, authenticity and shelf-life evaluation.
• Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and multi-element profiling for geographic traceability and fraud detection.
• Sample preparation innovations: QuEChERS, solid-phase microextraction, accelerated solvent extraction, supramolecular microextraction, stir-bar sorptive extraction and membraneless modules.

Hlavní výsledky a diskuse

The symposium demonstrated the power of combining advanced separations with high-resolution MS to deconvolute complex food matrices, detect regulated and unexpected contaminants, and identify marker compounds for authenticity. Integrated workflows reduced analysis time and improved sensitivity to sub-ppb levels. Bioanalytical assays showed robust performance for on-site screening. Spectroscopic and sensor-based approaches offered rapid, non-destructive evaluation of quality and adulteration. Regulatory and interlaboratory studies underscored the importance of standardized methods and proficiency testing.

Přínosy a praktické využití metody

• Enhanced contamination control through multi-residue, high-throughput screening in regulatory and industrial labs.
• Improved allergen risk management with rapid, quantitative immunoassays.
• Reliable authenticity testing by isotope fingerprinting and targeted metabolite profiling.
• Real-time quality monitoring using spectroscopy and electronic nose technologies.
• Streamlined sample preparation protocols for diverse food matrices.

Budoucí trendy a možnosti využití

Future developments will center on further miniaturization and automation of sample preparation, wider adoption of ambient and high-resolution MS for untargeted screening, integration of omics approaches (metabolomics, proteomics), application of nanotechnology and advanced biosensors, and expansion of data-driven chemometric models. Harmonized standards and digital platforms will facilitate real-time surveillance and AI-enhanced data interpretation.

Závěr

This comprehensive symposium highlights the rapid progress and interdisciplinary collaboration in food analysis. Ongoing innovation in analytical techniques and bioassays is essential to meet evolving safety standards, emerging contaminants and consumer demands. Continued method validation, international cooperation and technology transfer will drive future improvements in food quality, safety and authenticity.

Reference

List of organizers, sponsors, exhibitors and scientific committees as provided in the Book of Abstracts.