Systematic Literature Review on Integrating Macro and Micro Analytical Approaches for Food Quality, Safety, and Security in Modern Food Manufacturing

Abstract

Food quality, food safety, and food security are interrelated yet distinct. Ensuring food quality, safety, and security in modern manufacturing requires analytical systems capable of capturing both product level attributes and molecular scale variations. This review synthesizes recent advancements (2020–2026) in macro and micro analytical approaches and evaluates their combined potential to strengthen quality assurance across diverse food sector. Macrolevel methods including physical, sensory, and proximate analyses provide rapid, non-destructive assessments of texture, colour, composition, and consumer relevant attributes. In contrast, microlevel techniques such as microbial enumeration, chromatography, spectroscopy, molecular diagnostics, and metabolomics offer high resolution insights into contamination risks, biochemical transformations, and authenticity verification. Integrating these analytical scales creates a complementary framework that enhances traceability, supports regulatory compliance, and improves early detection of deviations in processing environments. The review highlights industrial applications in dairy, meat, cereal, and ready-to-eat foods, demonstrating how multiscale analytical strategies improve product consistency and safety outcomes. Emerging trends including AI-assisted analytics, biosensors, hyperspectral imaging, digital twins, and portable rapid testing platforms are accelerating the transition toward intelligent, data driven food systems. Sustainability-driven innovations such as green analytical chemistry and circular economy monitoring further expand the role of analytical science in resilient food production. While the review provides comprehensive coverage, limitations include variability in analytical protocols across studies, restricted access to nonindexed industrial data, and the early-stage maturity of several emerging technologies. Overall, the integration of macro and micro analytical approaches represents a critical pathway toward building transparent, efficient, and sustainable food manufacturing systems capable of meeting global quality and safety demands.