Advances in Optical Sensing Technologies for On-Site Detection of Harmful Residues in Food: Principles and Recent...

Food safety has recently attracted increasing attention, underscoring the need for timely and accurate on-site testing technologies. Optical detection, among various methods, offers notable advantages, including ease of use and rapid results, making it a promising approach for food safety applications. This paper reviews the fundamental principles of optical inspection for food field examination and explores its practical applications, including techniques such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence detection. Furthermore, this review discusses the integration of detection technologies with nanotechnology and smartphone-based systems. In addition, this review discusses the current applications, challenges, and potential solutions associated with optical detection in on-site food inspections.