Research Publications (Food Safety)

Food is closely related to human life. With the development of the times, the human demand for food has changed dramatically. People pay closer attention to the safety, health, composition, brand, origin, and processing method of food, which is precisely inseparable from food testing technology.

From farm to plate, food meets various challenges and pollution. Food detection is essential to ensure food safety. Although detection techniques have obtained great development, the accuracy, sensitivity and operating conditions still have room for improvement. Composed of dielectric media with different refractive indices to form a periodic structure, an optical material named photonic crystal (PC) can offer a breakthrough.

Fipronil, as an excellent insecticide, is widely used around the world, but its residues in agricultural products and the environment cause a series of health and ecological risks. In this study, a novel aptamer sensor for the sensitive, selective, and quantitative detection of fipronil in eggs was prepared using nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) modified by fipronil aptamer.

Food safety being a vast global public health threat has attracted growing concern. Efficient detection techniques for food hazards are essential to ensure food safety. Various methods have been established to sense food hazards for solving food safety-related problems. However, due to trace levels of food contaminants, pathogens, and toxins, the development of efficient and reliable detection techniques has been challenging work.

Food safety being a vast global public health threat has attracted growing concern. Efficient detection techniques for food hazards are essential to ensure food safety. Various methods have been established to sense food hazards for solving food safety-related problems. However, due to trace levels of food contaminants, pathogens, and toxins, the development of efficient and reliable detection techniques has been challenging work.

Tea is one of the most popular drinks worldwide. In the process of tea planting, for controlling pests, a variety of pesticides are usually applied. Therefore, pesticide residues and their metabolites in tea leaves, as well as their adverse effects on tea drinkers' health, are becoming increasingly concerning.

Here we describe the improvement of pesticide residue extraction from tomatoes by an improved QuEChERS method. Through Plackett–Burman design, 4 significant variables out of 11 potential variables were identified that could influence the relative deviation of measurements. The 11 variables were: amount of sample, C18, Na2SO4, NaCl, MgSO4, NaAc, GCB (graphitized carbon black), and PSA (primary–secondary amine); ACN volume; percentage of FA (formic acid); and centrifugation time.

Chlorpyrifos is a type of organophosphate insecticide used extensively in the plantation of tomatoes, a worldwide popular food. However, chlorpyrifos residues on tomatoes bring risks to human health considering the consumption level of tomato is relatively high across many countries. Accurate detection and strict regulation of chlorpyrifos residues are very important in controlling health risks related to chlorpyrifos.