Optical biosensors for food safety: recent progress in detecting foodborne pathogens in animal-derived products

Foodborne diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins in animal-derived foods pose a serious global public health threat. Conventional approaches for pathogen detection are often hampered by laborious processes, prolonged turnaround times, and a reliance on complex instrumentation typically confined to laboratory settings, thereby limiting the applications of rapid, on-site analysis. Optical biosensors have recently emerged as an attractive alternative for food safety monitoring, owing to their high sensitivity, rapid response, and portability. This review outlines recent progress in optical biosensing, with a focus on its application for detecting bacterial pathogens and toxins in foods of animal origin. First, we outline common pathogenic microorganisms and their associated toxins, along with the corresponding clinical manifestations and preventive measures. Subsequently, we elaborate on the mechanisms and applications of major optical biosensing strategies, including colorimetric, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy, highlighting performance enhancement achieved through functional nanomaterials. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages of multiple signal detection strategies in improving detection sensitivity, accuracy and reliability. Finally, we present current challenges and future development trends in optical sensing technologies for food safety, aiming to provide a reference for developing efficient, sensitive, and on-site detection tools for foodborne pathogens.