The 3D microfluidic analytical device developed in the present study has the potential to provide rapid analyzes of food samples, with an analysis time of approximately 70 min (including extraction) and with high precision at a low cost. Its applicability was tested in three different food matrices (milk, chicken, and lettuce) for the detection of three common food pathogens,
L. monocytogenes,
S. Typhimurium, and
E. coli. Multiple uses of integrated microfluidic LAMP systems have been identified in recent years [
14,
15,
16]. Qi et al., 2021 [
17], reported the development of a biosensor which uses a single microchip for the detection of
S. Typhimurium in chicken meat with a limit of detection (LOD) of 14 CFU/mL and an analysis time of 1 h. A similar application was described by Man et al., 2021 [
18], who developed a glass microfluidic colorimetric biosensor for the detection of
S. Typhimurium in freshly made salad with a LOD of 6.1 × 10
1 CFU/mL in 45 min. The detection of two pathogens in milk, namely
E. coli and
S. Typhimurium, at a level of 10
3 CFU/mL and 10
2 CFU/mL, respectively, by a microfluidic paper-based aptasensor device was reported by Somvanshi et al., 2022 [
19]. A microdevice for the detection of three food pathogens (
E. coli,
Salmonella, and
Vibrio cholerae) in chicken meat was described by Sayad et al., 2018 [
20], but with a higher LOD of 2.7 × 10
4 CFU/mL and an analysis time of 65 min. The same three pathogens as in the present study (
E. coli, Salmonella, and
L. monocytogenes) were detected in ready-to-eat meals by a paper-based analytical device for colorimetric detection developed by Jokerst et al., 2012 [
21], with a similarly low LOD of 10
1 CFU/mL but with a much longer analysis time of 8–12 h.
Due to the impact of foodborne pathogens on human health, governments and the food industry have been developing strategies to reduce the levels of foodborne pathogen contaminations. As the incidence of foodborne infections in Europe is not decreasing, but on the contrary, is increasing for most pathogens, the need to develop new rapid and simplified detection methods has become critical in the food industry. Microfluidic analytical devices are a technology that has been developing rapidly in recent years and is very promising for the evolution of analyzes to the point where they can keep up with the continuous increase in production. Based on their flexibility in terms of integration, multiplexing, automation, and miniaturization, "micro total analysis systems (μTAS)" or "labs-on-a-chip" have become increasingly well known [
22]. The use of microfluidic chip-based detection methods has certain clear benefits, such as high throughput, portability, relatively low reagent volumes and sample consumption, high speed, and the capacity to combine numerous components on a single chip [
23]. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique was introduced by Notomi et al. in 2000 [
24] as a unique DNA amplification technique that amplifies DNA under isothermal conditions with excellent specificity, efficiency, and speed. LAMP has been proven to be faster and more stable, sensitive, and specific for DNA identification when compared to conventional molecular detection techniques [
25].
These microdevices can be manufactured using a number of materials like polymers, glass, silicon, and paper [
26]. A number of applications have been developed for the detection of microorganisms including bacteria and viruses [
5,
26] in different matrices like clinical and food samples. In the case of food, applications for the detection of pathogens such as
Campylobacter,
E. coli,
Salmonella,
Vibrio cholera,
L. monocytogenes, and
Clostridium sporogenes use different detection methodologies like colometry, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence, electrochemistry, and turbidimetry. In order to minimize or eliminate the threat of possible infections, reduce the expensive storage of food until distribution, or prevent product recalls, the use of easy, non-time-consuming but sensitive detection methods for trace levels of bacterial pathogens is crucial. New technologies can expand the current possibilities by a drastically shortened detection time and a significantly lowered detection limit, with the additional benefit of being operable by non-experts. The design of innovative devices could also support the profitability of the European food industry.