Ensuring food safety is a global public health imperative, particularly given the growing risks associated with pesticide residues, heavy metals, illegal additives, and viral contamination in the food supply chain. Spectroscopic technologies—such as Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and fluorescence-based methods—offer rapid, label-free, and non-destructive alternatives to traditional analytical tools. In contrast to chromatography or immunoassays, these techniques enable real-time detection of hazardous compounds with minimal sample pretreatment. Recent advances in nanomaterials, signal enhancement strategies, and AI integration have significantly improved sensitivity and selectivity, making spectroscopy a promising tool for in-situ food monitoring, authentication, and quality control.
This Research Topic aims to explore the forefront of spectroscopic applications in food safety. We seek to present recent breakthroughs that demonstrate how spectroscopy-based platforms can detect trace-level contaminants, assess food freshness, identify adulteration, and monitor the cold-chain transport of viral agents. By promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, food scientists, engineers, and data scientists, this collection aims to accelerate the development and practical implementation of intelligent food safety systems.
The Research Topic welcomes the following article types: Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Technology Reports. Potential themes include, but are not limited to: • SERS-based detection of pesticides, antibiotics, or illegal additives in food • Spectroscopic monitoring of viral contamination in cold-chain food logistics • AI-assisted analysis of spectral data for food quality prediction • Portable, real-time devices for on-site food inspection • Integration of spectroscopy with IoT in food safety monitoring • Spectroscopic fingerprinting for food traceability and authentication
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Case Report
Clinical Trial
Conceptual Analysis
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
