Rapid methods as analytical tools for food and feed contaminant evaluation: methodological implications for mycotoxin analysis in cereals

Over the past years, food quality is perceived to have improved and food safety has become an important food quality attribute (Röhr et al., 2005). This implies that all aspects of food production and therefore of the feed supply chain must be considered to ensure the safety of human food (Pinotti & Dell’Orto, 2011). As a result, public authorities and regulatory agencies are pushing producers, manufacturers, and researchers to pay serious attention to food and feed production processes and to develop comprehensive quality policies and management systems to improve food safety and try to enhance consumer information to regain consumers trust in food. From this point of view, the knowledge and control of the level and distribution of contaminants and undesirable substances in food and feed are become a worldwide topic of interest due to the high economic and sanitary impact on human/animal health. Since it is impossible to fully eliminate the presence of undesirable substances and contaminants, an adequate surveillance and frequent checks are fundamental to assure quality and safety of raw materials destined for direct consumption or industrial processes. The aim of this chapter will be to evaluate the potentiality offered by rapid analytical approaches to food and feed evaluation, focusing on contaminants and undesirable substances. A critical overview, highlighting characteristics and applications of these techniques, will be offered with examples pointed on specific matrices and contaminants,cereals and mycotoxins, respectively.