Abstract:
Animal milk types in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are processed into varieties of products using different traditional methods and are widely consumed by households to support nutritional intake and diet. Dairy products contain several microorganisms, their metabolites, and other chemical compounds, some with health benefits and many others considered as potential health hazards. Consumption of contaminated milk products could have serious health implications for consumers. To access the safety of milk products across SSA, studies in the region investigating the occurrences of pathogens as well as chemical compounds such as heat stable toxins and veterinary drug residues in animal milk and its products were reviewed. This is done with a holistic view in light of the emerging exposome paradigm for improving food safety and consumer health in the region. Herein, we showed that several published studies in SSA applied conventional and/or less sensitive methods in detecting microbial species and chemical contaminants. This has serious implications in food safety because the correct identity of a microbial species and accurate screening for chemical contaminants is crucial for predicting the potential human health effects that undermine the benefits from consumption of these foods. Furthermore, we highlighted gaps in determining the extent of viral and parasitic contamination of milk products across SSA as well as investigating multiple classes of chemical contaminants. Consequently, robust studies should be conducted in this regard. Also, efforts such as development cooperation projects should be initiated by all stakeholders including scientists, regulatory agencies, and policy makers to improve the dairy product chain in SSA in view of safeguarding consumer health.
摘要:
撒哈拉以南非洲(SSA)的动物奶类型使用不同的传统方法加工成各种产品,并被家庭广泛消费以支持营养摄入和饮食。乳制品含有几种微生物,它们的代谢物,和其他化合物,一些具有健康益处,许多其他被认为是潜在的健康危害。食用受污染的奶制品可能会对消费者产生严重的健康影响。为了在整个SSA中获取奶制品的安全性,综述了该地区调查动物奶及其产品中病原体以及化学化合物如热稳定毒素和兽药残留的研究。根据正在出现的改善该地区食品安全和消费者健康的暴露范例,从整体角度进行了这项工作。在这里,我们表明,SSA中的一些已发表的研究应用了常规和/或较不敏感的方法来检测微生物种类和化学污染物。这对食品安全具有严重影响,因为正确识别微生物物种和准确筛选化学污染物对于预测潜在的人类健康影响至关重要,这些影响破坏了食用这些食品的好处。此外,我们强调了在确定跨SSA的乳制品的病毒和寄生虫污染程度以及调查多类化学污染物方面的差距。因此,在这方面应该进行强有力的研究。此外,发展合作项目等努力应由包括科学家在内的所有利益攸关方发起,监管机构,和政策制定者改善SSA中的乳制品链,以维护消费者健康。