Sustainable QuEChERS and Advanced Analytical Approaches for Food Safety Monitoring

Global food supply chains have become longer, faster, and more interconnected, exposing consumers to a broad spectrum of chemical contaminants. Veterinary drug residues, pesticides, mycotoxins, plasticizers, processing-induced compounds, and emerging pollutants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances can enter foods at any point along the food chain, from primary production to retail. Reliable detection of these residues at trace levels in complex matrices — animal tissues, dairy, cereals, fruits, vegetables, edible oils, beverages, and processed products — is essential for traceability, regulatory compliance, and public health protection.Mass spectrometry coupled with liquid or gas chromatography has transformed contaminant analysis, enabling sensitive, multi-residue screening at sub-ppb levels. Yet sample preparation remains the principal bottleneck: conventional workflows are time-consuming, consume large volumes of solvent, and generate considerable analytical waste. The QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method has become a cornerstone of food contaminant analysis thanks to its adaptability, reduced solvent footprint, and compatibility with high-throughput instrumentation. Ongoing advances in miniaturization, novel sorbents, bio-based solvents, and tailored clean-up steps are progressively aligning QuEChERS with the principles of green and sustainable chemistry, supporting safer foods and lower environmental impact.This Research Topic aims to consolidate recent progress and emerging innovations in QuEChERS-based and advanced analytical approaches for the determination of chemical contaminants in foods, while addressing the gap between analytical performance and environmental sustainability. We welcome contributions focused on sample preparation, chromatographic and mass spectrometric strategies, and integrated analytical workflows that improve selectivity, sensitivity, throughput, and robustness across diverse food matrices while reducing solvent consumption, waste generation, and environmental footprints. Particular attention will be given to studies integrating method miniaturization, sustainable analytical strategies, and advanced screening workflows. Contributions demonstrating fit-for-purpose validation, sustainability assessment using greenness metrics, and applications supporting traceability, quality control, and regulatory monitoring along the food chain are particularly encouraged.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Methods, and Brief Research Reports addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Novel or modified QuEChERS protocols for multi-residue analysis of pesticides, veterinary drugs, mycotoxins, plasticizers, PFAS, and other emerging contaminants in different food products.• Green and miniaturized QuEChERS workflows, including the use of bio-based or low-toxicity solvents, deep eutectic solvents, and reduced-scale formats.• New sorbents and clean-up materials (e.g., MOFs, MIPs, nanomaterials, biochar) for selective matrix removal in complex food samples.• Coupling of QuEChERS with advanced detection platforms: LC-HRMS, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, ambient ionization MS, IMS, and portable sensors.• Method validation, analytical performance benchmarking, and assessment of analytical greenness using established tools and metrics (e.g., AGREE, GAPI).• Applications supporting food traceability, dietary exposure assessment, quality control, regulatory monitoring, and risk assessment along the food chain. Topic editors: José Pinela, Ana Sanches Silva, Laura Barp Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82217/sustainable-quechers-and-advanced-analytical-approaches-for-food-safety-monitoring