Immunosensors for Food Safety: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

To monitor the levels of antimicrobials, allergens, pathogens and other contaminants in foods meant for human consumption, it is imperative to have quick, accurate and low-cost tests. Advanced techniques (e.g. label-free biosensor assays) have been developed over the past 10–15 years to solve some of these problems. As biosensors, immunosensors can provide real-time measurements, a high degree of automation, and improved throughput and sensitivity. By comparison with conventional methods, immunosensors are less expensive, less sophisticated physicochemical instruments that require less time for analysis while also being more user-friendly. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge about immunosensors, their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the future of these biosensors in food safety.