Book excerpt: As a key component of human survival, a safe and sufficient food supply is essential for a healthy and productive population throughout the world, so assurance that the food supply is clean and free of harmful substances is a global concern. In Mass Spectrometry in Food Safety: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field provide context to the subject through reviews of regulations in various countries, the current state-of-the art, and specific, detailed scientific methods being employed today. The volume thoroughly covers the key areas in food safety, such as detection of low level chemical residues, pesticide analysis aided by chromatographic techniques, and the revealing of mycotoxins and chemical contaminants from packaging materials. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, method chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Pertinent and cutting-edge, Mass Spectrometry in Food Safety: Methods and Protocols serves researchers with both understanding and appreciation for the contribution of mass spectrometry and its vital application to food testing and food safety.