Solid-phase microextraction in the analysis of food taints and off-flavors.

Selected food taints and off flavors, for which solid phase microextraction (SPME) has been used as a method for volatiles isolation, are the subject of review. Compounds responsible for musty and earthy odor off-flavors and taints in foods are discussed. This group contains haloanisoles, geosmin, and methylisoborneol. Chlorophenols are discussed as precursors of chloroanisoles and compounds impairing the flavor of food. Also described are volatile phenolic compounds responsible for medicinal off flavors, mainly ethyl phenols and vinyl phenols. Sulfur compounds that contribute to off-flavor are also discussed. Finally, a group of volatile compounds being the products of lipid oxidation are summarized. A short review of the formation, occurrence, and information on odor properties of all of these groups of compounds is given. Examples of SPME use for the analysis of compounds belonging to all described groups are shown. Elaboration of method parameters, fiber selection, experimental conditions, and quantitation of compounds are subjects of interest. Also, applications of SPME as a method for introduction of volatiles in mechanical olfaction technologies are shortly outlined.