Nutrition and Food Chemistry

New and rapid methods for food chemistry

Flow injection immunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and other serological methods are known for their speed, high-throughput capacity, and possibility of precise quantification of the target, whereas conventional culture-based enumeration tests for the detection of microorganisms have become obsolete for real-time applications because they are labour-intensive and time-consuming. Even in chemical analysis, the development of quick and simple methods is starting to take precedence over time-consuming, traditional approaches. One of these sample preparation pre-treatment assays is based on the QuEChERS method, whose acronym encapsulates its benefits (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe). The work by Nagoya and Tölgyessy revealed the validation of a quick and easy approach for the detection of a subset of priority H2SO4 halogen contaminants (six polybrominated diphenyl ethers and eight organochlorines) in nine distinct fish species. It was stated how to prepare a modified QuEChERS sample before performing a gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry study. The used method, in particular, demonstrated certain benefits in terms of simplicity, speed, and high extracts clean-up efficiency, and good sensitivity.