Surface-enhanced
Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been identified
as a fundamental surface-sensitive technique that boosts Raman scattering
by adsorbing target molecules on specific surfaces. The application
of SERS highly relies on the development of smart SERS substrates,
and thus the fabrication of SERS substrates has been constantly improved.
Herein, we investigate the impacts of different substrates on SERS
technology including plasmonic metal nanoparticles, semiconductors,
and hybrid systems in quantitative food safety and quality analysis.
We first discuss the fundamentals, substrate designs, and applications
of SERS. We then provide a critical review of the recent progress
of SERS in its usage for screening and detecting chemical and biological
contaminants including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, hazardous
colorants, and biohazards in food samples to assess the analytical
capabilities of this technology. Finally, we investigate the future
trends and provide practical techniques that could be used to fulfill
the requirements for rapid analysis of food at a low cost.