Food Safety
Safa Farahmand-Azar
Abstract
Foodborne pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and mycotoxin contamination in animal-derived foods collectively represent a significant one health challenge for livestock and dairy systems. Postbiotics, derived from inactivated microbial cells and their components, confer benefits to the host and have ...
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Foodborne pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and mycotoxin contamination in animal-derived foods collectively represent a significant one health challenge for livestock and dairy systems. Postbiotics, derived from inactivated microbial cells and their components, confer benefits to the host and have emerged as promising, stable, and safe alternatives to antibiotics and chemical preservatives for human and animal application. However, the effectiveness and consistency of postbiotics interventions remain unclear. This review summarized findings from 19 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 containing quantitative outcomes of postbiotics use in live animal and food. Using a PRISMA-guided methodology, this review systematically compared the efficacy of postbiotics in reducing foodborne pathogens, mycotoxins, and antimicrobial resistance markers across various species, food types. Postbiotics consistently resulted in 1.5 to 6.9 log10 CFU/g reductions in Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes, and reduced aflatoxins (AFM1/AFB1) in dairy products by 40–96%. In vivo trials demonstrated 28–58% decrease in selected antimicrobial resistance genes, frequently associated with modulation of the microbiota. These effects were observed across various delivery methods. Quantitative evidence demonstrates that postbiotics fulfill multiple functions, including enhancing food safety and supporting antimicrobial activity. With standardization and validation in real-world conditions, postbiotics could offer a scalable, one–health–aligned strategy that integrates animal nutrition, food processing, and public health.
