Veterinary Drug Residues in Food Chains: Sources, Exposure Pathways, Health Impacts, Mitigation, and Safety Assurance

The residues of veterinary drugs in the food chain are a global concern for food safety, including questions about the origin of these residues, exposure pathways, health impacts, methods for their dissolution, and accurate monitoring methods. In recent years, numerous professional studies have addressed the above concerns from various perspectives. However, these studies are relatively scattered and cannot provide a systematic and comprehensive understanding of recent developments. In this systematic review, we aim to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the current state of knowledge concerning the residues of veterinary drugs in the food chain through critical examination of their origins, exposure pathways, and associated health/environmental hazards. Investigating creative mitigation techniques to lower such residues in food products is given special attention. In summary, this research proposes a paradigm that balances the development of animal production with strict food safety governance to address productivity, consumer health, and international standards.