The role of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in food and recent advances in analytical methods.

The thermal processing, storage, and transportation of foodstuffs (e.g., fruit juices, coffee, honey, and vinegar) generate 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The food industry uses this compound as a quality marker, thus increasing the demand for fast and reliable analytical methods for its determination. This review focuses on the formation of HMF in food, its desirable and toxic effects, and recent advances in analytical methods for its determination in foodstuffs. The advantages and limitations of these analytical approaches are discussed relative to the main analytical features.