Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been identified as a fundamental surface-sensitive technique that boosts Raman scattering by adsorbing target molecules on specific surfaces. The application of SERS highly relies on the development of smart SERS substrates, and thus the fabrication of SERS substrates has been constantly improved. Herein, we investigate the impacts of different substrates on SERS technology including plasmonic metal nanoparticles, semiconductors, and hybrid systems in quantitative food safety and quality analysis. We first discuss the fundamentals, substrate designs, and applications of SERS. We then provide a critical review of the recent progress of SERS in its usage for screening and detecting chemical and biological contaminants including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, hazardous colorants, and biohazards in food samples to assess the analytical capabilities of this technology. Finally, we investigate the future trends and provide practical techniques that could be used to fulfill the requirements for rapid analysis of food at a low cost.
Keywords: food safety and quality analysis; hybrid SERS substrate; organic and inorganic semiconductors; plasmonic metal nanoparticles; surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).