Antibiotic Residues in Animal-Derived Foods: A Growing Food Safety Crisis and Regulatory Dilemma.

The microbiomes within dairy facilities that could serve as reservoirs for beneficial and pathogenic fungi have not been extensively explored. Though fungi can cause food safety and animal health issues, they also represent species contributing to bovine digestion and environmental nutrient cycling. This study investigated whether fungal communities from specific elements at a working dairy differed between cross-vent or flow-through, free stall barn management systems and defined the possible pathogen locations. Shotgun metagenomics was carried out on manure, lagoons, troughs, and fly samples from the barns. The diversity of species was not significantly affected by management systems, except between lagoon communities. Flies carried the highest number of unique fungal species and the most abundant potential mammalian pathogens, but there was a lack of overlapping pathogen profiles between flies and the other dairy components. Thus, it remains unclear whether the species are being efficiently exchanged between these different components of the dairy environment, mechanically or biologically. Manure harbored the most opportunistic pathogenic species, lagoons harbored the most plant pathogens and beneficial species, and troughs had the most innocuous or understudied species. The results allow dairy managers to consider advantageous management systems and focus on fungal mitigation efforts at appropriate locations within the dairy.

Objective : This literature review aims to analyse and compare consumers’ perceptions of organic food in developed and emerging countries, with a particular focus on cultural, health-related, institutional and economic factors shaping attitudes and adoption behaviours. Method : The study is based on a narrative review of empirical and theoretical publications published between 2000 and 2024, identified through major international academic databases. Articles were selected according to their relevance to the analysis of motivations, perceptions and institutional frameworks related to organic food consumption. Results : The literature reveals significant contrasts across contexts. In developed countries, organic food is mainly associated with environmental and ethical concerns, as well as trust in certification and regulatory systems. In contrast, in emerging countries, consumer perceptions are primarily driven by health concerns, food safety issues, perceived naturalness and risk reduction. Economic constraints, product availability and institutional trust emerge as cross-cutting factors influencing organic food adoption. Conclusion : By highlighting context-specific perceptions of organic food, this review contributes to a better understanding of organic food consumption dynamics in developed and emerging economies and provides insights for public policies and the development of organic food sectors.

Recent reports from worldwide reveal that micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive pollutants affecting all ecosystems and a wide range of organisms, including animals, plants, fish, humans, and microorganisms. MNPs have been detected in food items, mother milk, vegetables, and other consumable products, indicating their potential to impact organisms across all life stages. These particles can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. Due to their small size, micro/nanoplastics can be readily absorbed by animals and plants, leading to adverse effects on human health and ecological integrity. The present review addresses recent concerns related to MNPs pollution in aquatic animals and crops, with a particular focus on fish and rice. Exposure to MNPs has been reported to impair fish growth performance, immune responses, antioxidant status, digestive functions, reproduction, transgenerational effects, endocrine regulation, vitellogenin induction, neurotransmitter activity, and blood biochemical profiles. Similarly, MNPs adversely affect rice production by influencing various stages of the cropping system, including seed germination, vegetative growth, root and shoot development, tillering, and grain yield. Notably, both fish and rice are staple food sources for humans, highlighting the significance of this issue for food safety and public health. This review emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive studies on the impacts of micro/nanoplastics on aquatic animals and major food crops. It integrates systematic knowledge on the effects of MNPs on fish growth patterns, immunity, endocrine disruption, reproduction, and key physiological indices, as well as on rice growth and productivity. The synthesized information will be highly valuable for policymakers, government agencies, pollution control authorities, and other stakeholders in policy formulation and decision-making processes.

ABSTRACTTools based on multi‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA) can be used in decision‐making processes related to food safety issues (FSI). We used risk–benefit analysis (RBA) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to answer the following questions: What are the benefits and risks of using rapid Salmonella assays in large‐scale poultry industries? What are the benefits and risks of changing one implemented rapid method by another? In the RBA, we described the FSI, ranked Salmonella risk, and analyzed the benefits and costs of assays by considering seven criteria: supply capacity, international validation, cost of equipment, ease to perform, technical support, cost per sample, and time to obtain results. AHP, a mathematical framework based on pairwise comparisons, was used to confirm RBA findings. As a result, the RBA recommended the use of rapid assays in large poultry companies because they provide high benefits at low to high costs. However, the RBA was unable to identify the benefits of changing one implemented method by another because well‐known methods present similar characteristics, and the decision should be based on the best business proposals. The AHP analysis confirmed that faster assays bring higher benefits and could be companies’ choice, even costing more, but they have to attend to the main characteristics of well‐known assays, including equipment on loan. The main criteria for choosing rapid methods were prioritized as supply capacity, technical support, time to obtain results, and international validations. RBA and AHP reached equal conclusions; however, RBA was simpler to apply, whereas AHP enabled quantitative analysis.

Food safety issues caused by pesticide residues have received increasing attention from countries worldwide, and regions such as the European Union (EU) have set more stringent standards for pesticide residues. In recent years, aptamer-functionalized field-effect transistor (FET) aptasensors have demonstrated tremendous potential in pesticide residue detection due to their ultrahigh sensitivity and real-time response. In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were modified on the surface of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) via an in situ synthesis method. Through this method, an aptamer-functionalized s-SWCNT FET aptasensor was constructed to detect pesticide residues. Aptamer probes modified on the surface could specifically recognize various organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and generate electrical signals, thereby achieving high sensitivity and selectivity for their detection. The limits of detection for three representative OPs were 0.51 fM (chlorpyrifos), 0.47 fM (isocarbophos), and 0.21 fM (omethoate). This biosensor demonstrates several advantages, and it shows great potential for the trace-level detection of pesticide residues.

ABSTRACT Food safety issues have attracted increasing public attention and can affect not only domestic food consumption but also international trade in agricultural products. This paper examines the impact of the 2011 lean meat powder scandal in China on pork imports. Exploiting the exogenous exposure of the scandal, we employ a difference-in-differences approach comparing China’s pork imports from economies that allow lean meat powder with those that prohibit it, thereby constructing a quasi-natural experiment. To assess robustness and address substitution concerns, we also apply the synthetic control method to construct counterfactual import trajectories. The results show that, after the scandal, pork import quantities from the treatment group declined by 24.9%, while import values fell by 35.0%. The negative impact is more pronounced and persistent for offal products associated with higher residual risks. Supplementary evidence based on information search intensity suggests that heightened public attention is associated with stronger import reductions, consistent with a trust-related transmission mechanism. From a policy perspective, the findings indicate that food safety scandals can generate lasting disruptions in international agricultural trade, underscoring the importance for exporting economies of maintaining credible food safety standards and monitoring conditions in importing economies to mitigate trade risks from food safety shocks.

Organic food products have gained increasing attention due to rising health awareness, environmental concerns, and food safety issues. Organic foods are produced without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified organisms and are considered healthier and environmentally sustainable. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of consumer behaviour on organic food consumption in Coimbatore city. The study examines demographic characteristics, consumer preferences, and factors influencing purchasing decisions. Both primary and secondary data were used for the research. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 100 respondents using simple random sampling. The findings reveal that health consciousness, environmental awareness, product quality, and safety are major factors influencing consumer behaviour towards organic food products. However, higher prices and limited availability remain major barriers to wider adoption. The study concludes that increasing awareness, improving distribution channels, and promoting organic farming practices can enhance the consumption of organic food products.

A ratiometric fluorescence sensor based on starch/polyacrylamide/deep eutectic solvent hydrogel for visual and nondestructive detection of methyl parathion on foods.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin with global distribution, has caused serious economic losses and poses food and feed safety issues. Recently, a quinone-dependent dehydrogenase (DADH) was identified to degrade DON into the less toxic 3-keto-DON by oxidation of the critical toxic hydroxyl group, which was then reduced by aldo-keto reductase AKR13B3 into the relatively non-toxic 3-<em>epi</em>-DON. Nevertheless, the poor thermostability of DADH limits its practical application. Here, a combinatorial mutant M3 with significantly improved thermostability was screened using computation-aided design combining ancestral sequence reconstruction and structural analysis. The mutants M3 exhibited high thermostability with an 8.93-fold longer half-life at 55℃ than that of wild-type. Moreover, structural analyses and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the reduced flexibility, enhanced structural rigidity, favorable electrostatic potential, and increased number of hydrogen bonds in mutant M3 were the primary factors underlying its improved thermostability. This work provides a facile and efficient strategy to improving the thermostability of DON detoxification enzymes for agricultural and food industry applications.

Deep learning assisted PfAgo-programmable genetic circuit for ultrasensitive visual detection of foodborne pathogen in one-tube.

ABSTRACT Microbial contamination and oxidative spoilage are major causes of food waste and safety issues. This study develops a novel strategy by fabricating electrospun ternary composite nanofiber membranes from hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The key innovation lies in the effective integration of antibacterial and antioxidant functionalities into a single, mechanically robust matrix through HACC incorporation, as confirmed by TEM analysis which revealed a homogeneous fiber structure without phase separation. Increasing the HACC content (0–2.5 wt%) refined the fiber morphology, reduced the average diameter, and optimized the tensile strength to 119.22 MPa at 2.0 wt% HACC. The membranes exhibited excellent antibacterial activity, achieving 100% inhibition against S. aureus and E. coli , primarily by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, and showed DPPH radical scavenging activity of 53.27%. This work not only presents a high‐performance food packaging material with balanced mechanical, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties but also provides new insights into the design of multifunctional electrospun composites for sustainable food preservation.

Agricultural soils contamination of heavy metals is a growing concern due to food safety issues and potential health risks. Consuming crops that contain these minerals is one of the main ways elements enter the human body, then, they accumulate in human tissues and cause serious effects on health. This study aimed to monitor the levels of lead and cadmium accumulation in the edible parts of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) planted in several areas in Damascus and its countryside in accordance with the permissible levels according to FAO 2019. The dried samples were prepared using the open wet oxidation method using concentrated nitric acid HNO3 65% and hydrogen peroxide H2O2 50%, noting that the number of samples was (40) samples, finally they were analyzed using the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GFAAS).The results were compared with the Food and Agriculture Organization standard (FAO) 2019, and the results were as follows: For cadmium: in watercress all samples exceeded the acceptable upper limit of 0.2mg/ kg. In lettuce ten samples exceeded the acceptable upper limit of 0.2mg/kg. For lead: in watercress five samples exceeded the acceptable upper limit of 0.3mg /kg. In lettuce the results showed that the lead concentration in all studied samples didn’t exclude normal limits (0.3mg/kg). This study highlights the potential hazard for human health due to the uptake of high concentrations of heavy metals especially Cd and Pb by the studied vegetable crops. Vegetable consumers from these study areas are likely to be more susceptible to cadmium and lead toxicity as mentioned above. To avoid the harmful effects of the heavy metals accumulation on human health, consideration should be given to the constant examination to the edible parts of the vegetables grown in heavy metals contaminated soil.

Advances in the application of porous organic framework materials for adsorption and detection of mycotoxins and marine biotoxins.

Engineered α-zirconium phosphate embedded with defect rich zirconia as a high-performance electrochemical sensor for rapid and sensitive detection of diethofencarb.

Modern biotechnology, particularly genetic engineering, has been widely utilised in agriculture to improve the productivity and quality of food crops, including rice. This study aims to analyse the use of genetic engineering biotechnology in rice crops and its contribution to increasing agricultural yields and food security. The research method used was a literature study, reviewing various scientific journal articles discussing the application of genetically engineered rice. The results of the study show that genetic engineering in rice plants can increase resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, and higher yields. However, its application still faces a number of challenges, including food safety issues, potential environmental impacts, and public acceptance. Thus, the use of genetic engineering biotechnology in rice plants has great potential in supporting sustainable agriculture, but it needs to be accompanied by clear regulations, strict supervision, and continuous socialisation to the public.

The presence of trace and toxic elements in milk and dairy products is an important food safety issue, as contamination can occur along the dairy supply chain and may be influenced by animal species, production system, and processing conditions. This study aimed to investigate and compare the multi-elemental composition of milk and selected dairy products obtained from organic, conventional, and commercial production systems in north-western Romania. A total of 307 samples, including raw milk from different animal species (cow, goat, buffalo, donkey) as well as yogurt, cheese, and mozzarella, were collected from farms and retail outlets. Samples were subjected to standardized microwave-assisted acid digestion and analyzed for toxic and essential elements (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Al, Sn, Cu, and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with quality assurance ensured through certified reference materials and proficiency testing. The results indicated low concentrations of toxic metals across all dairy matrices, with Pb ranging from 0.0047 to 0.0117 mg/kg, Cd from 0.0008 to 0.0011 mg/kg, and As from 0.0007 to 0.0664 mg/kg, depending on animal species and production system. Mercury was consistently below the limit of detection in all datasets (LCD = 100%). Essential and transition elements were systematically quantified, occurring within expected ranges (Al: 0.021-0.264 mg/kg; Cu: 0.078-0.270 mg/kg; Zn: 3.245-7.963 mg/kg; Sn ≈ 0.0030-0.0035 mg/kg). All toxic element concentrations were below the maximum limits established by European Union legislation. Variations in elemental profiles were observed between animal species and production systems, with organic cow milk showing the most homogeneous composition. All toxic element concentrations were below the maximum limits established by European Union legislation. Overall, the findings confirm the safety of the analyzed dairy products and emphasize the relevance of multi-elemental monitoring as a practical tool for dairy supply chain surveillance and risk assessment.

Sheep commodities holds significant potential for the development of the livestock sector in Tegal Regency, especially for lamb satay, which is a local culinary icon. However, the red meat industry faces food safety issues that affect consumer acceptance and satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the quality of lamb satay from various producers in Tegal Regency and its correlation with consumer satisfaction. Samples of satay and sheep meat were collected from three selected producers. Laboratory analysis included microbiological analysis, nutritional content analysis, and physicochemical properties analysis, each with three replicates. Consumer satisfaction was measured using a questionnaire given to 32 consumers, consisting of 15, 8, and 9 respondents for producers A, B, and C, respectively. The results showed no statistically significant differences (p &gt; 0.05) in microbiological quality, including TPC, E. coli, and S. aureus. Nutritional and physicochemical parameters such as protein, fat, ash, water, carbohydrates, pH, and water activity also showed no differences between producers, indicating consistent quality. A total of 18 fatty acids were identified in lamb satay. A positive relationship (p &lt; 0.01) was found between consumer satisfaction and protein, moisture, ash, pH, and water activity levels, while fat and carbohydrates showed a negative correlation (p &gt; 0.01). In addition, all sensory attributes had a significant effect (p &lt; 0.01) on consumer satisfaction. In conclusion, lamb satay in Tegal Regency has consistent quality among producers. Higher levels of moisture, ash, pH, water activity, and sensory attributes increase consumer satisfaction, while higher fat and carbohydrate content decrease it.

Cattle and pig farming play a critical role in sustaining livelihoods and ensuring food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, diseases and conditions leading to carcasses and offal condemnation at abattoirs are significant threats. This study sought to address gaps in recent data relating to the causes of carcass and offal condemnations in cattle and pigs at selected abattoirs in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe and the resulting economic losses. Meat inspection condemnation records for the period 2017 to 2022 were accessed from the Veterinary Public Health Department in Bulawayo. A total of 402,668 cattle and 55,177 pigs were slaughtered during this period. Pigs had significantly higher organ condemnation rates than cattle (4–12% vs. 0.5–1.6%). The liver was the most condemned organ in cattle, mainly due to fasciolosis, while the lungs were most condemned in pigs, primarily from contamination. Partial and whole carcass condemnations were more common in cattle (1,957, 0.5% of carcasses examined) than pigs (28, 0.05% of carcasses examined), mostly due to Taenia saginata and Taenia solium cysticercosis, respectively. Economic losses were estimated at USD 551,038 for cattle and USD 21,252 for pigs. Our study provides insights into important zoonotic and food safety issues in livestock production in Zimbabwe and baseline data to inform interventions to reduce condemnations and associated economic losses.

Understanding residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) and ecosystem disservices (EDS) is crucial for protected areas governance. This study, conducted in China’s Three-River-Source National Park (TNP), employed participatory rural appraisal and household questionnaires to examine local cognitive patterns of ES and EDS, along with their socio-spatial heterogeneity and perceived synergies and trade-offs among them. The key findings are as follows: (1) Cultural services received the highest scores, followed by regulating services, whereas provisioning services, especially food provisioning, were rated as relatively inadequate. Safety threats were considered the most severe EDS. Overall, a Matthew Effect emerged: services with high current perception scores showed an improving trend, while those with low scores deteriorated. (2) Spatially, ES/EDS evaluation scores exhibited a “core zone &lt; general control zone &lt; peripheral zone” gradient. Socio-demographic and economic factors also influenced residents’ perceptions; women and the elderly were especially more concerned about food and energy supply shortages and safety issues. (3) The relationships among the various ES and EDS are primarily synergistic rather than trade-offs. Specifically, gains in regulating services were associated with enhanced cultural services, while declines in provisioning services and intensified safety threats coincided with the deterioration of material EDS. These findings offer a scientific basis for managing protected areas in high-altitude, ecologically fragile regions and provide practical insights for balancing ecological conservation with community development.