Chemical Analysis on the Way to a Mass Consumer: Solutions for Food Quality Control

A pronounced trend in present-day analytical chemistry is increasing availability of chemical analysis for a mass consumer. To date, a large number of serial test kits for semi-quantitative analysis and a series of devices for assessing the compliance of individual parameters of an analyzed sample with the required standards have appeared. The review systematizes and discusses the main solutions currently available in this area for food analysis and reflects its current state. According to the authors opinion, the concept of the availability of a particular accessory is largely determined by its presence on the market and the acceptance of its cost to an individual consumer; therefore, the review focuses on commercialized analytical tools costing mainly up to 100 thousand rubles. Relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use test tools; portable electrochemical, spectroscopic, refractometric, and ultrasonic systems; as well as electronic nose systems for chemical analysis are considered and their main characteristics and approximate cost are given. Assumptions are made about the prospects for the further development of chemical analysis tools available to a mass consumer.