Use of Nanomaterials in the detection of food contaminants

Abstract

Food safety plays an important role in public health and thus to society as a whole. Food borne illness associated with toxins, pathogens or other food contaminants poses a serious health threat all over the world. Food may become unsafe due to the presence of adulterants such as melamine, food born pathogenic bacteria, toxins such as cholera, shiga, aflatoxin amongst others. The present review is focused on the potential role of nanomaterials, which are currently being used in various biosensors, for the detection of various chemical contaminants, toxins and pathogens.