Funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3, Theme 10.
Funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3, Theme 10.
Highlights
Spoke 03
On the analytical level, the research integrated spectroscopic techniques and high-resolution mass spectrometry with omics approaches, particularly metabolomics and proteomics. This combined framework enabled the identification and characterisation of known and emerging contaminants with greater sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional methods.
In parallel, chemical sensors, immunosensors and portable devices were developed to allow rapid detection of toxins, allergens and foodborne pathogens, even at very low concentrations. The reliability and robustness of these technologies were validated through inter-laboratory testing, confirming their compatibility with international standards.
A further contribution concerned the development of new matrix reference materials specific to both traditional and novel foods. These resources enhance analytical harmonisation, stability and comparability of results and support the standardisation and broader transferability of advanced methods, including in laboratories with different technical capacities.
The digital dimension played a central role in data integration. IoT-based platforms, big data infrastructures and artificial intelligence tools were developed to enable real-time data collection and analysis across supply chains. This integration supported a transition towards more predictive, interconnected and data-driven food safety management systems.
WP 3.3 strengthened analytical precision, methodological harmonisation and digital integration within food safety governance frameworks.
The task includes evaluation of safety parameters in traditional and novel foods through the development of: a) chemical sensors and immunosensors for the selective detection of algal and plant toxins, and trace allergens; b) portable devices based on laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS) and other spectroscopy techniques; c) Ambient Desorption Ionisation methods with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (DESI-HRMS); e) use of rt-PCR and digital droplet-PCR to evaluate new and (re)-emerging foodborne pathogenic species; f) metabolomics and proteomics strategies coupled to pathway analysis to evaluate the effects of emerging and re-emerging contaminants; d) analytical techniques, i.e., spectroscopic and MS-based, to determine biogenic amines, pesticides, veterinary drug residues, mycotoxins and processing toxicants; and g) new Matrix-Reference Materials to be characterised for food safety parameters will be developed, including preparation of test-lots, their characterization and homogeneity and stability studies.
Digital solutions will be developed by transfer of digitization models within the food supply chains and the development of data economy (IoT, Big Data, Edge Computing, etc.) and new “green solutions” in support to food safety, risk assessment and traceability. In addition, smart labels for food oxidation detection and shelf-life assessment will be considered. Tools to address metrological principles for reliability of measurement results and confidence in data for FAIR principles’ implementation will be applied. Finally, a database of food traceability data will be realised by implementing an IoT platform using a specific AI algorithm in real time, and data from WP1 and WP2 will be shared at national level by developing a new platform using ReCaS DataCenter.
Optimised advanced strategies for targeted and untargeted analyses (M12)
List of available methodologies for digital solutions in food safety (M18)
List of stakeholders’ needs for traceability purposes (M18)
