Solid-phase microextraction coupled to comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography for food analysis

Solid-phase microextraction and comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography represent two milestone innovations that occurred in the field of separation science in the 1990s. They have a common root in their introduction and have found a perfect coupling in their evolution and applications. This review will focus on food analysis, where the paradigm has changed significantly over time, moving from a targeted analysis, focusing on a limited number of analytes at the time, to a more holistic approach for assessing quality in a larger sense. Indeed, not only some major markers or contaminants are considered, but a large variety of compounds and their possible interaction, giving rise to the field of foodomics. In order to obtain such detailed information and to answer more sophisticated questions related to food quality and authenticity, the use of SPME-GC x GC-MS has become essential for the comprehensive analysis of volatile and semi-volatile analytes. This article provides a critical review of the various applications of SPME-GC x GC in food analysis, emphasizing the crucial role this coupling plays in this field. Additionally, this review dwells on the importance of appropriate data treatment to fully harness the results obtained to draw accurate and meaningful conclusions.