Foodomics assessed by Fourier transform mass spectrometry

With its ultrahigh resolution power and excellent mass accuracy, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry is the perfct tool to analyze the "foodome" as the set of all polar small molecular compounds present in an investigated food sample. We present here selected applications of this technique in unraveling the metabolome in complex foods (thermally affected, fermentation products, distillates) such exemplified with Maillard reaction products or with wines and spirits. Technical considerations for high resolution mass analyzers are provided from a practical point of view. Moreover, aspects of food safety and nutritional quality are covered by presenting applications to the mycobolome of Alternaria fungi and vitamins of the folate group, respectively.