Application of Carbon Quantum Dots in Food Business: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACT The growing demand for efficient, accurate, and affordable methods of evaluating food safety has led scholars to look into cutting‐edge analytical techniques. Carbon quantum dots, or CQDs, have shown great promise in the real‐time detection and measurement of heavy metals, herbicides, and pathogens, among other pollutants. These are newly discovered blooming carbon nanoparticles that are smaller than 10 nm. The several techniques for creating CQDs from different carbon sources have been compiled in this review paper. The manufacture of CQDs in the food industry has both significant advancements and apparent challenges. Although food waste can be used to create CQDs, research is still ongoing to determine how feasible and scalable these processes are. Despite the fact that CQDs have demonstrated potential in enhancing food safety and quality, further studies are essential to optimize their application in the food industry. This review will be very helpful to researchers and professionals who want to develop CQDs to fight food‐related issues.