Seafood is both nutritionally and economically significant, with bivalve molluscs being particularly valuable for monitoring environmental pollutants due to their filter-feeding nature and ability to bioaccumulate pollutants. While not often linked to food poisoning, these molluscs can occasionally introduce health risks, highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring. This review provides a thorough analysis of pollutants—including persistent and emerging pollutants, as well as marine toxins—found in bivalve molluscs between 2019 and 2024. Among the studied pollutants, plasticizers and alkaloids are the most frequently analyzed, with liquid and gas chromatography (GC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS) the predominant methods, although novel approaches to determine these compounds, such as sensors, have also emerged in recent years. However, many studies are focused on establishing pollutant content without addressing bioaccumulation (BA) factors, and a lack of standardization in species and sampling locations complicates comparisons between the different published works. Despite some studies linking human activity and algal blooms to BA dynamics, more comprehensive research is needed. Additionally, limited data on the depuration capacity of molluscs underscores the need for further investigation. Although pollutant levels generally remain within legal limits, many substances remain unregulated. Environmental factors also play a critical role in influencing BA, emphasizing the need for future studies to focus on BA factors to better understand these complex dynamics.

Sterigmatocystin (STE) is a possible human carcinogenic compound (2B) according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer classification. Structurally, STE is a precursor to aflatoxins, sharing a similar polyketide-derived biosynthetic pathway, which underscores its toxicological relevance. It has been reported to occur in a variety of foodstuffs including cereals and cereal-based products, spices, cheese, and nuts, among others. STE poses a substantial challenge to food safety and addressing this issue requires a comprehensive strategy encompassing prevention, monitoring, and regulation to protect both human and animal health from its harmful effects. The present paper presents the analytical methodologies for the determination of STE in foodstuffs and the reported levels of STE in food, based on a review of scientific publications from 2021 to 2024. Significative progress has been made in the development of analytical methodologies for STE determination in food; however, further advancements in analytical techniques, standardized protocols, and monitoring are essential to improve risk assessment and guide effective mitigation strategies.

Edible oils are essential in daily diet due to their high contribution of fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and triglycerides. During the processes of growing, processing, storage, transport, or packaging, they can be contaminated by ubiquitous phthalate esters, considered endocrine disruptors. Thus, analytical methodologies to allow tight control of their presence are mandatory. Several sample treatments have been considered in this study: microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE), magnetic SPE (MSPE), solid phase microextraction (SPME), Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) or its combinations. However, the selection of an analytical procedure is usually performed from an Analytical Chemistry perspective, without considering factors such as the sustainability of the selected methodology and/or its impact on the environment. In this sense, the Green Analytical Chemistry strategy can play an important role. To demonstrate this fact, six different analytical procedures have been evaluated in terms of sustainability by using several greenness evaluation tools. Procedures from MAE-gel permeation chromatography (GPC)-SPE till SERS, showing adequate analytical characteristics, have been selected. The application of Analytical GREEnness calculator (AGREE), AGREE preparation (AGREE prep), and blue applicability grade index (BAGI) tools showed that MAE-GPC-SPE was the less green analytical procedure while SERS was the greener one. The BAGI evaluation showed that headspace (HS) and SERS were the most applicable procedures.