Making sense of luminescence from GRAS optical probes

• Luminescence of GRAS probes is a versatile tool for food research and development.
• Molecular photophysics determines sensitivity to physical–chemical properties.
• Probe structure determines specific interactions and environmental sensitivity.

Optical generally recognized-as-safe (GRAS) chromophores that occur naturally in or are routinely added to foods, such as colors, antioxidants, flavors, vitamins, or other bioactive compounds, can be used as intrinsic and safe luminescent, that is, fluorescent or phosphorescent, probes of important quality attributes in foods. The effective characterization and interpretation of the luminescent signals from GRAS chromophores, coupled with adequate data analysis procedures, can be used to relate the complex spectral parameters of optical emission from a probe to specific molecular properties of the food and, thus, can expand the repertoire of analytical techniques available to monitor quality, stability, bioavailability and safety of the food supply at various stages of the production and distribution chain or at point of sale.

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