Analytical systems and metrological traceability of measurement data in food control assessment

The article reviews food control systems in the framework of analytical quality assurance and metrological traceability of measurement data with focus on the analytical control of processes in the food industry. Among approaches devised in response to emerging food safety and quality issues, as well as for food authenticity and traceability testing, those based on mass spectrometry are discussed as powerful technologies for multiplex targeted and nontargeted screening methods. The article examines the role of spectral imaging techniques, isotope ratio mass spectrometry and biomolecular techniques for assessing food authenticity, as well as the role of biosensors as high throughput screening strategies in food control, underlying the power of chemometrics for analyzing data structures from multiple analytical platforms. Quality control and quality assurance systems to guarantee robustness of analytical processes and the role of metrological comparability as the prerequisite for reliability of measurement results in food analysis are highlighted.