Chlorates and perchlorates are endocrine disruptors and emerging environmental contaminants found in various types of foods, including milk and dairy products. The presence of chlorate has been associated with the use of chlorine-based sanitizers to disinfect equipment and water used in food processing. Perchlorate, on the other hand, occurs naturally in the environment but is also released from anthropogenic sources. To protect consumers, the EU set an MRL for chlorate in milk but not for perchlorate. Considering that data on chlorates and perchlorates in this field are limited, the objective of this study was to assess the presence of these two anions in 148 samples of raw bovine milk collected from different farms of Lombardy and grouped in three different geographical zones. Chlorate was detected in 73% of the samples analyzed, at concentrations ranging from <LOQ to 18.70 μg kg⁻¹ with an average value of 7.10 ± 5.88 μg kg⁻¹ below the MRL; perchlorate with a frequency of 99%, in the range from <LOQ to 6.95 μg kg⁻¹ and an average value of 4.06 ± 1.58 μg kg⁻¹. No significant differences were detected among the three geographical zones. An evaluation of the estimated daily intake of perchlorate through milk confirmed the absence of risk for Italian consumers.

Infrared (IR) technology offers a promising solution for reducing microbiological loads in various food types while preserving their quality traits, such as flavour. However, research on IR’s application in complex matrices is limited. Therefore, our preliminary study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in sanitizing bovine raw milk. We assessed the bacterial count before and after IR treatment by comparing volatile organic compound profiles via headspace extraction and GC/MS analysis. Our findings showed that higher energy levels led to a greater bacterial reduction. IR85 was the most effective in reducing Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae in non-homogenised samples, with a reduction ranging from −1.01 to >−2.99 and from −1.66 to −3.09 Log CFU/mL, respectively. IR60 and 70 showed no efficacy, while IR80 had intermediate but still satisfactory effect. IR85 notably affected volatile compounds, particularly increasing hexanal (from 0.08 to 4.21 ng g⁻¹) and dimethyl sulphone (from 10.76 to 26.40 ng g⁻¹), while IR80 better preserved the aroma profile. As a result, only IR80 was tested with homogenised raw milk, demonstrating significant bacterial reduction (from >2.39 to 3.06 Log CFU/mL for Coliforms and from 1.90 to >2.45 Log CFU/mL for Enterobacteriaceae) and maintaining the aroma profile quality.

Fish plays a key role in a healthy and balanced Italian diet, but it is also subject to the bioaccumulation of different contaminants depending on the geographical or anthropogenic context from which it is derived. In recent years, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been focusing its attention on consumer toxicological risk, considering emerging contaminants such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Regarding fish, anchovies are among the five small pelagic main commercial species in the European Union and the top five fresh species consumed by households in Italy. Considering the lack of data on PFASs and PTEs in this species, our aim was to investigate the mentioned contaminants in salted and canned anchovies collected over 10 months from different fishing areas, even those far apart, to verify possible variations in bioaccumulation and to consider the risk for the consumer. According to our results, the assessed risk was very reassuring also for large consumers. The only concern, related to Ni acute toxicity, also dependent on the different consumers’ sensitivity, was related to only one sample.

Ith poultry consumption projected to rise significantly, understanding the presence and control of antimicrobial residues in poultry products becomes increasingly important for ensuring food safety and public health. Consequently, in the present study, the incidence and concentration of antimicrobial drugs in 919 samples, all from an antibiotic-free poultry supply chain, were investigated using a high-pressure liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry multiclass antimicrobial residue method, involving a wide range of matrices (water, feed, feathers, livers, muscles, eggs, and retail products, such as chicken nuggets, chicken drumsticks, chicken breast, and chicken thighs) to verify not only the compliance with Regulation 37/2010, but also to investigate the possible administration of antimicrobial drugs or potential bad farm management in the antibiotic-free supply chain. Antimicrobial drug residues were detected in 4% of all the analyzed samples, with concentrations ranging from < detection capability to 57.87 ng g-1, but no residues were detected in muscles, livers, eggs, and retail products (chicken nuggets, chicken drumsticks, chicken breast, and chicken thighs). While the absence of antimicrobic residues in these matrices suggests compliance with maximum residue limits set by Regulation 37/2010 and a framework of substantial safety towards consumers, the presence of antimicrobic residues in drinking water, feathers, and feed, considering the provenience from an antibiotic-free supply chain, highlights the importance of the ongoing monitoring activities to ensure that the results align with antibiotic-free product certification standards.