Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in the Safety Control of Animal-Derived Raw Materials: The Role of Food Processing in the One Health Framework
https://doi.org/10.36107/spfp.2026.1.743
Abstract
Purpose. To substantiate the need to incorporate food processing into the One Health framework as an independent target of hygienic and process-oriented surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the production of foods from animal-derived raw materials.
Materials and Methods. This opinion article is based on an analytical comparison of international guidance on integrated antimicrobial-resistance surveillance and studies of food-processing environments, biofilms, microbial persistence, and genomic source tracking of contamination. The argument distinguishes evidence that can inform technological risk management from evidence sufficient to support conclusions regarding risks to human health.
Results. The dissemination and persistence of antimicrobial resistance in the food chain depend not only on prior antimicrobial use in animal production, but also on the capacity of the processing environment to permit, eliminate, or redistribute microbial populations. Routine control of raw materials, the production environment, and finished products remains fundamental to food safety; however, it does not always establish whether recurrent detection of a microorganism reflects a new introduction or the persistence of a genetically related strain within a specific production niche. To address this limitation, a risk-oriented surveillance model is proposed that integrates spatially referenced sampling, archiving of significant isolates, targeted assessment of phenotypic susceptibility, typing of recurrent isolates, and whole-genome sequencing or metagenomic analysis when a specific technological question arises. The analysis demonstrates the need to distinguish between sanitary non-compliance, technological persistence, phenotypic resistance, the presence of genetic resistance determinants, and confirmed risks to human health.
Conclusion. Antimicrobial-resistance surveillance at food-processing facilities should be regarded as a tool for identifying sources of contamination, verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions, and generating comparable data for integration with veterinary and clinical surveillance. The detection of a resistant microorganism or a resistance gene should not automatically justify classifying a food batch as unsafe without evaluation of the microbiological, technological, and epidemiological context.
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Review
For citations:
Lapteva E.A. Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in the Safety Control of Animal-Derived Raw Materials: The Role of Food Processing in the One Health Framework. Storage and Processing of Farm Products. 2026;34(1). https://doi.org/10.36107/spfp.2026.1.743
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