Recent advances in emerging imaging techniques for non-destructive detection of food quality and safety

• Current situation in the analysis of food quality and safety is reviewed.
• Applications of emerging imaging tools to food quality and safety are reviewed.
• Advantages of emerging imaging tools to food quality and safety are reviewed.
• Limitations of emerging imaging tools to food quality and safety are pointed out.
• Observed trends of emerging imaging tools to food quality and safety are provided.

Food quality and safety issues are increasingly attracting attention. Emerging imaging techniques have particular advantages in non-destructive detection of food quality and safety. This review looks at the trends in applying these emerging imaging techniques to analysis of food quality and safety, in particular, hyperspectral imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, soft X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging, thermal imaging, fluorescence imaging, and odor imaging. On the basis of the observed trends, we also present the technical challenges and future outlook for these emerging imaging techniques.