Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used in food science and nutritional studies for decades and is one of the major analytical platforms in metabolomics. Many foods are solid or at least semi-solid, which denotes that the molecular motions are restricted as opposed to in pure liquids. While the majority of NMR spectroscopy is performed on liquid samples and a solid material gives rise to constraints in terms of many chemical analyses, the magic angle thrillingly enables the application of NMR spectroscopy also on semi-solid and solid materials. This paper attempts to review how magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR is used from 'farm-to-fork' in food science.
Keywords: Cheese; Dairy; Food authenticity; Food composition; Food metabolites; Food structure; Foodomics; Fruit ripening; Grain filling, vegetables, plant biochemistry; Intact tissue; Meat; Plant-based food; Semi-solid food characterization; Taste compounds.