Public Health Significance of Veterinary Drug Residue in Food Animal Products - A Review

Abstract

The objective of this review paper was to investigate the public health significance of veterinary drug residues in food of animal origin. Data were collected by means of the search engine and all relevant journals published between 2019 and 2022 and stocked under Google Scholar were retrieved for analysis. The use of veterinary medications in animals that produce food has the potential to leave residues in animal-derived products (meat, milk, eggs and honey), which puts the consumer's health at risk. The inability to follow the withdrawal period and incorrect drug use are the most likely causes of drug residues. The development of antimicrobial drug resistance, hypersensitivity reaction, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity and alteration of intestine natural flora are the main public health implications of drug residue. The frequent application of tandem or high-resolution mass spectrometry along with liquid chromatography has greatly enhanced analytical methods for residue analysis. This advancement made it possible to quickly conduct targeted searches for hundreds of target compounds in complicated matrices like milk, eggs, honey, or meat and organs after slaughter. Reduction of antimicrobial drug resistance problem has been indicated as one of the most challenging issues related to food safety in the forthcoming years. There is little data available on the extent of veterinary drug residue globally. Therefore, a significant amount of work must be done to assess the scope of the issue, prevent the occurrence of veterinary drug residues and to familiarize animal health professionals with the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicological effects of veterinary drugs in order to reduce the potential public health risk posed by drug residues in food derived from animals.