A review on antibiotic residue in foodstuffs from animal source: global health risk and alternatives

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics to treat diseases and promote the growth of animals lead to the deposition of antibiotics in animal tissues, and subsequently, antibiotics come into the human body through the food chain. In this paper, comparative studies on antibiotic residue (AR) in foodstuffs from animal source and human health risks are reviewed in detail. The early part of this review is focused on the use of different veterinary antibiotics in animal farms and the marine environment as a reservoir of ARs. Later on, ARs in foodstuffs, including meat, milk, and marine foods have been comprehensively discussed. Review studies on human health issues associated with antibiotics show that people from poor and developing countries are the most vulnerable to infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. At the end of the review, some alternative approaches that include the use of phytogenic feed additive, organic acid, probiotic, prebiotic, and other substances are summarized, considering their potential exposure to replace antibiotics as growth promoters and mitigate the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant genes.