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, their 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 the critical examination of their origins, exposure pathways, and associated health/environmental hazards. Particular emphasis is placed on exploring innovative mitigation strategies for reducing such residues in food products. In brief, this review proposes a framework that balances livestock production intensification with rigorous food safety governance to address productivity, consumer health, and global standards.