Pesticides play an essential role in modern agriculture, yet increasing evidence links their widespread use to neurotoxic effects that contribute to both neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. In recent years, new classes of pesticides such as neonicotinoids and pyrethroids have garnered attention due to their potential to disrupt neurodevelopment, even at low exposure levels. Furthermore, emerging evidence underscores the involvement of the gut–brain axis, neuroinflammation, and epigenetic modulation in pesticide-induced neuropathology. This review aims to synthesize these latest advancements while highlighting underexplored mechanisms, thereby offering a comprehensive and current perspective on pesticide-related neurotoxicity. Data from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) indicate that several food products include residues of pesticides recognized for their neurotoxic properties. Although environmental exposure levels are lower than those in occupational contexts, the magnitude and persistence of food-based exposure demand thorough evaluation. This review integrates evidence coming from epidemiological, in vivo and in vitro investigations, emphasizing the correlations between pesticide exposure and conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cognitive deficits in children. Neurodevelopmental toxicity is especially alarming since symptoms may manifest subtly and with a delayed onset after early-life exposure, indicating the significant neurotoxic potential of pesticide residues and emphasizing the need for their careful evaluation in food safety assessments. Improved regulatory procedures and public health efforts are essential to reducing long-term brain damage.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a typical gastrointestinal disease that causes bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, or alteration of the last two in adults and children. A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) is one of the potential treatment strategies to reduce abdominal symptoms and increase the quality of life. The present narrative review aims to present a general overview of current studies that have evaluated the efficacy of a low-FODMAP diet against other diets in gastrointestinal symptoms, nutrient intake in adults and children, and lifestyle quality. The research was performed using seven searchable databases, which included the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, up to March 2023. In conclusion, there is significant evidence that the follow-up of a low-FODMAP diet might be a feasible first-line therapeutic strategy to reduce stomach discomfort, pain, bloating, and quality of life for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Honey bees are renowned for producing a remarkable substance known as bee honey, which stands as a functional food celebrated for its numerous health benefits. This natural wonder possesses a spectrum of advantageous properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antibacterial, and wound-healing qualities. However, in our modern era of heightened utilization of bee products, a new and pressing global health concern has emerged—the contamination of honey with pesticides, antibiotics, microorganisms, and heavy metals. The consumption of beekeeping products containing pesticide residues has been linked to a range of health issues, including genetic malformations, cellular degradation, allergic reactions, and even potential carcinogenic effects. Troublingly, documented cases exist of botulism in newborns resulting from the ingestion of contaminated honey. Additionally, the use of antibiotics in beekeeping practices has been associated with the concerning emergence of antibiotic resistance. This comprehensive review sheds light on the substantial consequences of honey contamination for human health. It underscores the urgent need for the establishment of a rigorous monitoring system, the validation of minimum acceptable pollutant levels, and, at the very least, the regulation of maximum residue limits for bee products, with a particular emphasis on bee honey.

The increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is essential for moving towards a healthier and more sustainable diet. Vegetarian diets are gaining in popularity due to their environmental and health implications; however, there is a need for additional research investigating pesticide residues in these foods. It is increasingly recognized that the global food system must prioritize nutritional quality, health, and environmental impact over quantity. Food contaminants, including pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals, pose a substantial threat to food safety due to their persistent nature and harmful effects. We conducted a literature search utilizing four distinct databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, NIH, ScienceDirect) and several combinations of keywords (pesticides, food, vegetarian diet, toxicity, sustainable, removal). Consequently, we selected recent and relevant studies for the proposed topic. We have incorporated articles that discuss pesticide residues in food items, particularly in plant-based products. This study rigorously analyzes the harmful environmental impacts of pesticides and ultimately provides sustainable solutions for their elimination or reduction, along with environmentally sound alternatives to pesticide use. This study concludes that the transition towards sustainable agriculture and food production is essential for reducing pesticide residues in food, thereby protecting human health, wildlife populations, and the environment. This paper argues for the urgent need to transform global food systems to prioritize health and sustainability.

The increasing use of pesticides in agricultural products raises concerns over food safety. Furthermore, uncontrolled pesticide usage on food products can lead to residual levels that exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) and are potentially harmful to human health. Long-term consumption of food contaminated with pesticides can contribute to the buildup of toxic substances in the body, which has negative health effects. Advanced analytical techniques are essential to ensure the accurate and effective monitoring of pesticide residues. To ensure adherence to legal requirements, it is essential to employ rapid and accurate methods for detecting these contaminants. This review outlines current advancements (2020–2025) in the assessment of pesticide residues in diverse food matrices, including sample preparation procedures and detection methods. This review provides a standardized comparative analysis of analytical methods for detecting pesticide residues, emphasizing their advantages and limitations, sensitivity, costs, and applicability to complex food matrices, while evaluating its findings through the One Health approach, linking residue evaluation to cumulative exposure and regulatory standards. This study provides practical guidelines for laboratories and regulators while delineating research requirements for more environmentally friendly, rapid, and sensitive residue analysis in accordance with One Health-oriented risk assessment.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is a frequent comorbidity in heart failure (HF), associated with reduced functional capacity and poor prognosis. Although the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines recommend systematic screening and intravenous iron supplementation (IS), adherence in clinical practice remains limited. This observational study aimed to evaluate how these recommendations are implemented into practice. Methods: We performed a retrospective study including 4348 patients hospitalized with HF (NYHA II-IV) in a tertiary internal medicine clinic in Eastern Europe between January 2018 and September 2022. Demographic data, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, echocardiographic findings were collected from electronic medical records. IS was defined as serum ferritin < 100 ng/mL. Results: Among HF patients, 2547 (58.7%) were screened for ID, and 1091 (42.8%) had absolute deficiency. Only 278 patients (25.5%) received intravenous ferric carbodymaltose. Treated patients were predominantly elderly (70.1% ≥ 70 years), female (60.4%), and often had ischemic or valvular disease. Patients receiving intravenous IS showed higher NT-proBNP and troponin levels. A progressive increase in IS use was observed during the study period, with a temporary decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Despite relatively high screening rates, only one-quarter of HF patients with confirmed ID received intravenous IS. These findings highlight persistent gaps between guidelines and clinical practice, emphasizing the need for improved awareness and implementation of ESC recommendations to optimize outcomes in HF patients with ID.