RAFA 2021 BOOKLET

Importance of the Topic

Food analysis underpins consumer protection, regulatory compliance and industry quality control. As global supply chains face new threats – from food fraud and emerging contaminants to climate-driven mycotoxin shifts – robust analytical approaches are essential to detect adulterants, toxins and authenticity markers at ever-lower levels.

Objectives and Overview of the Event

RAFA 2021 (Recent Advances in Food Analysis) was a two-day virtual symposium (November 3–4, 2021) organized by UCT Prague and Wageningen Food Safety Research. It assembled academic, industrial and regulatory experts to present

• cutting-edge analytical challenges in food matrices
• advances in metabolomics and lipidomics
• novel strategies for food fraud detection and authentication
• decentralized testing concepts (e.g. FoodSmartphone)
• regulatory perspectives and emerging contaminants

Methodologies and Instrumentation

The program showcased a wide spectrum of techniques, including:

• Chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC×GC–TOF, LC–HRMS, LC³–MS⁴)
• Infrared and near-infrared spectroscopy
• Imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI, DESI, AP-SMALDI)
• Targeted and non-targeted metabolomics and lipidomics (LC/GC-QTOF, LC/GC-HRMS)
• Single-particle ICP-MS for nanoparticle analysis
• Smartphone-based bioassays and lateral-flow tests
• Trapped ion mobility separation (TIMS) and ion-mobility-hyphenated MS
• High-throughput PCR for pathogen testing
• Microwave-assisted extraction and automated clean-up workflows
• Specialized software platforms for data processing (waters_connect, CHRONOS, MS Quan)

Main Results and Discussion

This event highlighted several key outcomes:

• Global mycotoxin surveys confirm FAO estimates and reveal climate-driven shifts in occurrence up to 80% above detection limits.
• Imaging MS uncovers spatial metabolite distributions in crops under stress or contamination.
• LC³–MS⁴ demonstrates enhanced resolution for complex lipid profiling in infant formulas.
• FoodSmartphone prototypes enable rapid on-site screening of allergens and mycotoxins with smartphone readouts.
• One-class modelling with PCA and autoscaling sensitively detects botanical adulteration without predefined markers.
• High-throughput SIFT-MS headspace profiling correlates VOC fingerprints with freshness and spoilage markers.
• Trapped ion mobility and high-performance surfaces mitigate metal analyte interactions for improved B-vitamin and organic acid analyses.
• Vendor webinars presented innovative columns, software-driven data review, and fully automated sample prep systems to streamline routine testing.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These advances offer laboratories:

• Increased sensitivity and specificity for recurrent and emerging analytes (PFAS, pesticides, MOSH/MOAH, ethylene oxide)
• Greater throughput via multidimensional separations, automation and simplified user interfaces
• Decentralized testing empowering end-users and reducing laboratory burdens
• Enhanced data confidence through high-resolution accuracy, CCS matching and exception-focused review
• Greener workflows through reduced solvent use and efficient extraction techniques

Future Trends and Possibilities

Looking ahead, the field is poised to integrate:

• Multi-omics platforms combining genomics, metabolomics and imaging data for holistic food profiling
• Artificial intelligence and machine-learning driven anomaly detection and predictive analytics
• Expanded smartphone-based confirmatory loops bridging on-site screening with laboratory MS
• Broader applications of ion mobility for non-target screening and isomer separation
• Standardized digital platforms for harmonized global data exchange and early-warning systems
• Strategies to assess safety in circular-economy food chains and recycled food-contact materials

Conclusion

RAFA 2021 underscored the dynamic evolution of analytical chemistry in ensuring food integrity. By merging novel instrumentation, automated workflows and cross-sector collaboration, the community advances towards more rapid, sensitive and holistic food safety and authenticity solutions.