ASSESSMENT OF ANTIBIOTIC CONTAMINATION IN MILK AND ITS IMPACT ON CONSUMER HEALTH

Abstract

Antibiotic residues in bovine milk remain a globally relevant food-safety and public-health concern. This expanded review synthesizes evidence on sources and pathways of contamination; occurrence patterns; analytical screening and confirmatory workflows; regulatory standards and maximum residue limits (MRLs); and the spectrum of health implications, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), hypersensitivity reactions, microbiome perturbation, and toxicological effects. It further integrates case studies of surveillance and control, formulates risk assessment approaches, and proposes layered mitigation strategies aligned with a One Health framework. The paper emphasizes harmonization of analytical performance criteria, risk-based monitoring, and stewardship policies that reduce residues at source while preserving animal welfare and dairy-sector efficiency (Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2021; European Commission, 2021; U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2023; World Health Organization [WHO], 2022).