Analytical Technologies for Milk Component Analysis: A Review of Progress and Challenges

Abstract

Dairy products are an important source of high-quality protein, calcium, and various micronutrients in the human diet. The detection of milk components spans the entire industrial chain, including raw milk quality control, processing management, and market supervision. It has evolved from traditional pass/fail judgment toward an integrated approach encompassing risk early warning, quality enhancement, and traceability and authentication. This paper reviews the classification of dairy components targeted for detection and summarizes major technical systems, including conventional physicochemical methods, chromatography and spectroscopy techniques, biosensing and microfluidic rapid detection, as well as multi-omics-based deep profiling. The principles, advantages, and application limitations of each method are compared. Key challenges such as complex matrix interference, lack of reference standards, and standardization of rapid detection methods are analyzed. Future directions toward intelligent, on-site, precise, and panoramic detection are also discussed, aiming to provide technical references for quality and safety control, quality improvement, and high-quality development of the dairy industry.