Invisible Threats in Food Systems: Emerging Contaminants, Exposure Pathways and Safety Concerns

Abstract

Emerging contaminants have become a major concern in global food systems due to their increasing detection in agricultural environments, food commodities, and human diets. These contaminants include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disrupting chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, novel pesticides, and transformation products that are not routinely monitored or comprehensively regulated. Advances in high-resolution analytical techniques have revealed their widespread occurrence at trace levels, raising concerns regarding chronic dietary exposure, mixture toxicity, and long-term health effects. This review synthesizes current knowledge on sources, transport pathways, and fate of emerging contaminants in food systems, with particular emphasis on the soil–water–plant–animal–food continuum. Implications for food safety governance, research priorities, and preventive risk management are discussed. Graphical Abstract