BOOK OF ABSTRACTS - 3rd International Symposium on RECENT ADVANCES IN FOOD ANALYSIS (RAFA)

Significance of the Topic

The 3rd International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis convened over 200 experts in Prague (November 2007) to address emerging analytical challenges in food safety, quality control and ingredient profiling. As regulatory limits tighten and food matrices grow more complex, novel methods—ranging from microfabricated chips and biosensors to high‐resolution mass spectrometry—are vital for detecting trace contaminants, monitoring toxins and ensuring product authenticity.

Symposium Goals and Overview

The symposium assembled oral presentations (L-1 to L-41), an Allergen Workshop (AL-1 to AL-7) and a broad Poster Session covering general analysis, contaminants (environmental, nanoparticles, pesticides, drugs, mycotoxins), processing by-products, authenticity, flavours and bioactive components. Key objectives included:

• Presenting state-of-the-art detection techniques for food contaminants and toxins.
• Sharing advances in chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC×GC–TOF, LC–MS/MS) and ambient ionization methods (DESI, DART, EESI).
• Demonstrating biosensors, immunoassays and microfluidic platforms for rapid screening.
• Discussing validation strategies and regulatory needs for routine monitoring.

Methodologies and Instrumentation

Speakers highlighted innovative approaches, including:

• Microfabricated fluidic ‘lab-on-a-chip’ devices enabling multiplexed biochemical assays.
• Electrochemical immunosensors for mycotoxins (T-2, HT-2, DON) with screen-printed electrodes and immunomagnetic beads.
• Infrared laser desorption ionization (IR-LDI) for direct profiling of oils, tissues and food products without extraction.
• Comprehensive two-dimensional GC coupled to high-speed or high-resolution TOF MS for fingerprinting volatile markers in processed foods.
• Isotope dilution LC–MS/MS quantification of glycation products (e.g. carboxymethyllysine, pyrraline) to assess processing damage.
• Biosensor and SPR platforms for real-time detection of algal toxins and pesticide residues.

Main Results and Discussion

The collective findings demonstrated:

• Sub-ppb sensitivity and high throughput in trace contaminant analysis (e.g. ergot alkaloids, acrylamide markers).
• Enhanced specificity for ‘masked’ mycotoxins via high-resolution MS and novel immunoassays.
• Successful integration of ambient ionization with ion mobility and TOF analyzers for rapid screening.
• Validated workflows for enzyme-free digestion and isotope-labeled standards in glycation analysis.
• New insights into flavor formation pathways in cocoa and roasted foods using molecular sensory science.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These advances benefit laboratories and industry stakeholders by offering:

• Reliable compliance with lowering regulatory limits in food safety.
• Reduced sample preparation and faster time-to-result.
• Broader screening capabilities for unknown and emerging contaminants.
• Improved product quality assurance and authenticity verification.

Future Trends and Potential

Emerging directions include:

• Further miniaturization and automation of microfluidic and sensor platforms for in-line monitoring.
• Wider adoption of ambient MS methods to analyze unprocessed samples directly.
• Integration of chemometric fingerprinting with high-resolution MS for provenance and fraud control.
• Development of non-animal bioassays and aptamer-based sensors to replace traditional tests.

Conclusion

The symposium underscored a paradigm shift toward rapid, multiplexed and high-fidelity analytical techniques in food analysis. Continued collaboration across academia, industry and regulatory bodies will be essential to translate these innovations into routine practice and to safeguard the global food supply.

Reference

The full set of abstracts, presentations and methodological details are documented in the symposium proceedings edited by J. Pulkrabová, M. Suchanová and M. Tomaniová (2007).