Review on Sensor Array-Based Analytical Technologies for Quality Control of Food and Beverages

**Background:** Food safety is a critical global public health concern, with the WHO reporting nearly 600 million cases of illness and approximately 0.42 million deaths annually from contaminated food. The food testing market was valued at $18 billion in 2020 and is expected to exceed $40 billion within the next decade. This review compares conventional analytical methods (chromatography and spectroscopy) with emerging sensor array-based technologies (electronic noses) for food quality and authenticity assessment across the food supply chain.

**Methods:** The authors conducted a non-exhaustive literature review using Google Scholar, SciFinder, Science Direct, and Scopus databases, supplemented by AIJN, WHO, and NIST databases for regulatory standards. Initial Scopus search using 'analytical methods in food quality control' yielded 373 results (last 4 years), with 112 open-access documents. Refinement with 'Sensors' produced 94 documents. A separate search for 'electronic nose in food quality control' yielded 160 results (61 open access), comprising 110 articles, 33 reviews, 8 conference papers, and 5 book chapters.

**Key Results:** The review identifies that food quality assessment primarily targets VOC biomarkers (esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, terpenes, organic acids) and non-VOC parameters (pH, Brix value, formol index, ascorbic acid, K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺ ion content). Conventional chromatography methods (GC-MS, HPLC) achieve high sensitivity, with detection limits as low as 0.005–0.03 μg·cm⁻³ for polyphenols and quantification limits of 10 µg·kg⁻¹ for artificial additives. UV-Vis spectroscopy coupled with PCA can detect apple juice adulteration down to 0.8%. E-nose technologies using metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor arrays (e.g., commercial FOX 3000/4000 with 6–18 sensors, PEN 2/3 with 10–18 sensors) have been commercialized and applied to monitor degradation of peach juice, coffee roasting, and rice ageing over 0–6 months. Organic nanomaterial-based e-noses using conducting polymer nanocomposites (CPC) achieved limits of detection below 1 ppb and response times of approximately 13 seconds for clove essential oil biomarkers. Porphyrin-based organic field-effect transistor (OFET) sensor arrays successfully classified VOC biomarkers from spoiling meat and dairy products using PCA and vector comparison methods.

**Clinical Implications:** The transition from laboratory-based chromatography and spectroscopy to portable e-nose technologies enables real-time, on-site food quality monitoring, potentially reducing foodborne illness incidence. Current limitations include MOS sensors' high operating temperature requirements and limited selectivity within VOC families. Future directions include developing room-temperature organic nanomaterials (polymer nanocomposites, porphyrins, phthalocyanines), integrating multiple transducer types in single devices, and incorporating artificial intelligence into pattern recognition algorithms to improve accuracy, speed, and autonomy of food safety screening.