The conversion of aflatoxin B1 in feed consumed by cows into aflatoxin M1 in their milk poses a challenge to food safety, with milk being a popular staple food and because of the harmful effects of these compounds. This study aimed at reviewing scientific information about the extent of carry-over of AFB1 from feed to milk. A range of studies reported about correlations of carry-over with different factors, particularly with milk yield and AFB1 intake. The extent of carry-over considerably varies, being 1–2% on average, which may be as high as 6% in the case of increased milk production. Specific factors influencing transfer rates, including milk yield, somatic cell counts, aflatoxin B1 intake, source of contamination, seasonal effects, particle size of feed, and the effects of certain interventions, namely vaccination and the use of adsorbents, are identified as the most important and are discussed in this review. The different mathematical formulas describing carry-over and instances of their application are reviewed as well. These carry-over equations may lead to largely different results, and no single carry-over equation can be suggested as the best one. While the exact quantification of carry-over is difficult as the process depends on many factors, including individual variabilities between animals, the intake of aflatoxin B1 and milk yield seem to be the most important factors influencing the excreted amount of aflatoxin M1 and the rate of carry-over.

Plant-based meat analogues (i.e., plant-based meat alternatives or substitutes, or vegan meats) are becoming more and more popular. The quality of the available products is constantly increasing therefore their consumption is also increasing. The primary role of meat analogues is to replace the meat component in meals while appropriate nutrient content and hedonic value will be provided as well. The food safety aspects of these newly emerging food products are less investigated. The aim of this study is to compare the microbial spoilage of identical meals prepared with meat and meat analogues to evaluate the food safety risk of meat analogues. In this work, raw protein materials were tested. Moreover, three pairs of meals prepared with or without meat were microbiologically examined during a storage experiment. Microbial contaminants were low in raw protein sources. In the case of hot meals, the microbial proliferation was faster in samples containing meat analogue, especially if the meals were not cooled. The food safety risk of meals prepared with meat analogues is slightly higher than their meat-containing counterparts, therefore more attention needs to be paid to the preparation, processing, and storage of these foods.

Intestinal epithelium provides the largest barrier protecting mammalian species from harmful external factors; however, it can be severely compromised by the presence of bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Antibiotics have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of GI bacterial infections, leading to antimicrobial resistance in human and veterinary medicine alike. In order to decrease antibiotic usage, natural substances, such as flavonoids, are investigated to be used as antibiotic alternatives. Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are potential candidates for this purpose owing to their various beneficial effects in humans and animals. In this study, protective effects of grape seed oligomeric proanthocyanidins (GSOPs) were tested in IPEC-J2 porcine intestinal epithelial cells infected with Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium of swine origin. GSOPs were able to alleviate oxidative stress, inflammation and barrier integrity disruption inflicted by bacteria in the co-culture. Furthermore, GSOPs could decrease the adhesion of both bacteria to IPEC-J2 cells. Based on these observations, GSOPs seem to be promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal bacterial infections.

The study presents a systematic review of published scientific articles investigating the effects of interventions aiming at aflatoxin reduction at the feed production and animal feeding phases of the milk value chain in order to identify the recent scientific trends and summarize the main findings available in the literature. The review strategy was designed based on the guidance of the systematic review and knowledge synthesis methodology that is applicable in the field of food safety. The Web of Science and EBSCOhost online databases were searched with predefined algorithms. After title and abstract relevance screening and relevance confirmation with full-text screening, 67 studies remained for data extraction, which were included in the review. The most important identified groups of interventions based on their mode of action and place in the technological process are as follows: low-moisture production using preservatives, acidity regulators, adsorbents and various microbiological additives. The results of the listed publications are summarized and compared for all the identified intervention groups. The paper aimed to help feed producers, farmers and relevant stakeholders to get an overview of the most suitable aflatoxin mitigation options, which is extremely important in the near future as climate change will likely be accompanied by elevated mycotoxin levels.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health concern, with the food production sector, particularly poultry production, playing a significant role in the spread of resistant bacteria. This study aims to identify and analyze the key factors influencing antimicrobial use (AMU) and thereby/or the spread of AMR within the poultry production chain, spanning from farm to consumer. A scoping literature review was conducted to investigate factors influencing AMU and/or the emergence and dissemination of AMR in poultry production. Knowledge synthesis was conducted from 69 relevant publications covering data from 41 countries. A total of 327 factors were identified from the various studies. Most factors (221) were related to knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) concerning farms. The other significant group, with 57 factors, involved intentional misuse or poor practices related to antimicrobials. The findings highlight the complexity of factors influencing AMR in poultry production, including financial pressures on farmers and varied training effectiveness. Integrated and tailored interventions are essential. Drug/feed sellers’ practices require stronger regulations, while economic motivations and policy gaps must be addressed. Systematic management of these interactions and further research on environmental and genetic influences are crucial for effective strategies to combat this pressing public health challenge.

Raw milk and dairy products can serve as potential vectors for transmissible bacterial, viral and protozoal diseases, alongside harboring antimicrobial-resistance genes. This study monitors the changes in the antimicrobial-resistance gene pool in raw milk and cheese, from farm to consumer, utilizing next-generation sequencing. Five parallel sampling runs were conducted to assess the resistance gene pool, as well as phage or plasmid carriage and potential mobility. In terms of taxonomic composition, in raw milk the Firmicutes phylum made up 41%, while the Proteobacteria phylum accounted for 58%. In fresh cheese, this ratio shifted to 93% Firmicutes and 7% Proteobacteria. In matured cheese, the composition was 79% Firmicutes and 21% Proteobacteria. In total, 112 antimicrobial-resistance genes were identified. While a notable reduction in the resistance gene pool was observed in the freshly made raw cheese compared to the raw milk samples, a significant growth in the resistance gene pool occurred after one month of maturation, surpassing the initial gene frequency. Notably, the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes, such as OXA-662 (100% coverage, 99.3% identity) and OXA-309 (97.1% coverage, 96.2% identity), raised concerns; these genes have a major public health relevance. In total, nineteen such genes belonging to nine gene families (ACT, CMY, EC, ORN, OXA, OXY, PLA, RAHN, TER) have been identified. The largest number of resistance genes were identified against fluoroquinolone drugs, which determined efflux pumps predominantly. Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring gene pool variations throughout the product pathway and the potential for horizontal gene transfer in raw products. We advocate the adoption of a new approach to food safety investigations, incorporating next-generation sequencing techniques.