CHEMICAL INTEGRITY OF MODERN MILK: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF ADDITIVES, ANTIOXIDANTS, AND EMERGING TOXIC RESIDUES

Abstract

Milk is increasingly vulnerable to chemical contaminants originating from intentional adulteration and environmental biotransformation. This review synthesizes the multifaceted landscape of chemical residues in dairy systems, analyzing preservatives, antioxidants, antibiotics, and emerging toxic pollutants. While illegal preservatives and neutralizers mask poor hygiene in tropical climates, modern processing pivots toward clean-label bio-preservatives and plant-derived polyphenols to inhibit lipid and protein degradation.

A significant focus addresses veterinary drug residues – predominantly beta-lactams and tetracyclines, which cause manufacturing defects in fermented dairy cultures and drive global antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, environmental toxins like Aflatoxin M₁, heavy metals, and pesticides present severe public health hazards via feed-to-milk bioaccumulation. To mitigate these risks, advanced diagnostic frameworks, including nanomaterial-based biosensors and blockchain-enabled traceability networks, are evaluated alongside non-thermal decontamination treatments. Ultimately, this paper underscores a "One Health" approach to harmonize regulatory frameworks and safeguard the chemical integrity of global dairy supply chains.