Electrochemical biosensors for fast detection of food contaminants – trends and perspective

• Types of biosensors reported for food-specific applications.
• Biorecognition elements of biosensors for detection of food contaminants.
• Recent advances in nanomaterials and molecularly-imprinted polymers for food biosensing.
• Miniaturization and development of portable devices for on-site detection in food analysis.

Biosensor technology represents an extremely wide field with a great impact to healthcare, environmental and food quality control. The aim of this review is limited to biosensors developed in the very last years specifically for monitoring food contaminants. The review covers the basic principles and types of electrochemical biosensors reported for food-specific applications. Innovation in materials science, nanotechnology and biomimetic design are reinforcing the biosensor field. This review highlights current and future trends in materials used for biosensing, miniaturization and development of portable devices in order to have on-site detection of the target analytes.