PROGRAM - 7th International Symposium on RECENT ADVANCES IN FOOD ANALYSIS (RAFA)

Significance of the Topic

The 7th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA 2015) brought together leading scientists and industry specialists to address critical issues in food safety, authenticity, contaminants and novel analytical technologies. As the global food supply chain grows more complex, reliable methods to detect fraud, emerging contaminants, natural toxins and pathogens are essential to protect public health and maintain consumer trust.

Aims and Overview of the Symposium

RAFA 2015 aimed to showcase the latest developments in analytical chemistry applied to food and feed. Spanning four days and featuring plenary lectures, oral sessions, workshops and poster presentations, the symposium covered topics including food authentication, contaminants and residues, natural toxins, nanomaterials, bioanalytical methods, omics technologies, and regulatory perspectives within the European framework.

Methodologies and Instrumentation

The program highlighted a broad range of state-of-the-art analytical tools and approaches:

• Chromatography coupled with high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS, LC–MS/MS, LC–QTOF).
• Ambient ionization methods (DESI, DART, REIMS) and ion mobility spectrometry for rapid, non-targeted screening.
• Vibrational spectroscopy (NIR, Raman, FT-IR) and chemometrics for fingerprinting and authenticity testing.
• Advanced sample preparation techniques (QuEChERS, SPE, TurboFlow, ASE) and automated workflows.
• Biological assays, biosensors and nucleic acid-based methods (LAMP, NGS, metagenomics, microarrays) for pathogen detection and bioactive compound analysis.

Main Findings and Discussion

Key insights emerged from plenary sessions and workshops: advances in ambient mass spectrometry enabled on-site food profiling; ion mobility and high-resolution MS improved confidence in compound identification; emerging EU regulations continue to drive method harmonization; and multi-omics approaches offer deeper understanding of food composition and safety hazards. The Horizon 2020 seminar underscored the importance of collaborative research and funding opportunities for food security and bioeconomy projects.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Participants left with practical knowledge on implementing robust analytical strategies in routine quality control, including:

• High-throughput screening for pesticides, veterinary drugs and environmental contaminants in complex matrices.
• Non-destructive authentication methods for olive oil, honey, wine and meat products.
• Sensitive detection of natural toxins, mycotoxins and plant alkaloids in cereals and snacks.
• Application of nanomaterial analysis in food contact materials and consumer products.
• Bioanalytical approaches for rapid pathogen detection and allergen quantitation.

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Looking ahead, RAFA highlighted several emerging trends:

• Integration of big data, chemometric modelling and machine learning to enhance non-targeted screening and fraud detection.
• Further miniaturization and point-of-need devices for on-the-spot authenticity and safety testing.
• Expansion of omics-based quality markers to monitor food chain integrity and nutritional profiling.
• Development of universal screening platforms able to address multiple classes of contaminants in a single workflow.
• Enhanced collaboration between reference laboratories and industry to standardize methods and share best practices.

Conclusion

RAFA 2015 successfully fostered dialogue between academia, regulatory bodies and industry to advance analytical science in food safety and authenticity. The wealth of presentations reflected both the challenges and opportunities in ensuring a secure food supply. The symposium underscored the need for continued innovation, harmonized methods and collaborative networks to safeguard consumers and support sustainable food systems.