The Veterinarian's Role in Food Safety: Ensuring Safe Food from Farm to Fork in the One Health Era
Sandeep Kumar
Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl–796 014, Mizoram, India.
Gagan Chawla *
Animal Physiology Division, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India.
Abhishek Tiwari *
Animal Nutrition Division, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India.
Vinay Kumar
Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner–334 001, Rajasthan, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Food safety remains a major public health concern because animal-derived foods can transmit biological, chemical and physical hazards to consumers when control systems are inadequate. This review examines the role of veterinarians in maintaining food safety across the farm-to-fork continuum within the One Health framework. It discusses veterinary responsibilities in primary production, including herd health management, vaccination, biosecurity, parasite control, welfare oversight, feed and water monitoring, and antimicrobial stewardship. The review also considers the contribution of veterinarians to transport assessment, ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection, slaughter hygiene, milk and dairy safety, veterinary drug-residue control, HACCP verification, zoonotic disease surveillance, epidemiological investigation and outbreak response. Particular attention is given to antimicrobial resistance, emerging zoonotic pathogens, climate-related changes in pathogen distribution, globalised food trade, food fraud and veterinary workforce gaps as current challenges affecting food safety governance. The manuscript further highlights the growing relevance of whole-genome sequencing, digital traceability, precision livestock farming and artificial intelligence-assisted decision support in strengthening surveillance, early detection and risk management. Overall, veterinarians provide essential scientific, regulatory and operational expertise that links animal health, public health and environmental protection. Strengthening veterinary education, laboratory capacity, surveillance infrastructure, residue monitoring, data-sharing systems and intersectoral coordination is therefore necessary to improve food safety outcomes and support practical One Health implementation across diverse production and regulatory settings. These measures may also enhance consumer confidence, regulatory compliance and timely response to hazards throughout increasingly complex animal-source food supply chains at national and international levels.
Keywords: Food safety, veterinary public health, one health, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, HACCP, veterinary drug residues, genomic surveillance, biosecurity, food-chain traceability.