Recent advances in zearalenone clean-up approaches from polluted food and feed: A mini-review of the State-of-the-art developments

Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin generated by fusarium species, is often found in food and feed and can be extremely harmful to human and animal health. Warranting food safety requires effective extraction of ZEN from contaminated matrices. This mini-review concisely summarizes the most recent ZEN extraction techniques from contaminated food and feed. It highlights firstly various extraction techniques, including liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction using molecularly imprinted polymers (SPE-MIPs), [Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe method (QUEChERS)], green extraction methods such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) to improve extraction approaches. Secondly, it discusses recent advanced methods of ZEN detection. This review also discusses the challenges associated with ZEN extraction such as matrix effects, co-contaminants, and the need for standardization method. It emphasizes the importance of continued research to refine existing techniques and develop novel strategies that ensure high efficiency, specificity, and environmental sustainability.