Advances in Sample Preparation for Food Analysis

Foods from the present environment comprise an extremely diverse group of products, often added with additional items such as preservatives, vitamins, antioxidants, and sometimes contaminated with harmful substances such as pesticides. Food analysis, promoted by industry, academia and governmental institutions, pushes research toward more advanced, sensitive and environmental-friendly methodologies. In this context, sample preparation is of crucial importance. The most recent sample preparation techniques applied to food analysis are here briefly reviewed, discussing advantages and drawbacks of each one.