Integrated approaches to food and beverage safety: assessing contaminants, nutritional quality and emerging detection technologies for public health enhancement

Abstract

This review synthesises integrated strategies for safeguarding food and beverage safety, with emphasis on emerging contaminants, nutritional quality, and public health implications. Key contaminants, particularly microplastics (MPs) and synthetic dyes, are increasingly detected in packaged foods, bottled water, salt, and beverages, raising significant safety concerns. Recent studies reported a wide variability in MPs contamination across regions and food types, reflecting the absence of standardised detection protocols. Advances in analytical technologies, including nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors, green microextraction techniques, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted detection platforms, have improved sensitivity and selectivity, although further validation and industrial scalability remain necessary. Similarly, research on synthetic dyes highlights progress in sustainable extraction and detection methods, such as deep eutectic solvent (DES) microextraction and sensor innovation, aligning with the growing shift toward eco-efficient analytical practices. This review also evaluates the nutritional and metabolic impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which represent a major component of modern diets and are consistently associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other non-communicable diseases. Cross-country analyses revealed excessive sugar, salt, and fat content in UPFs, alongside gaps in front-of-package labelling systems and limited consumer literacy. These findings underscore the need for harmonised nutritional profiling frameworks and product reformulation policies. In addition, the role of probiotics in enhancing microbial safety and functional beverage quality is examined. Emerging microencapsulation techniques show promise in improving probiotic survival and bioactivity during storage and digestion, though mechanistic insights remain limited. Policy assessments indicate that fiscal measures, advertising regulations, and labelling requirements are inconsistently applied across nations, revealing persistent misalignment between technological innovations, regulatory implementation, and consumer behaviour. Three major research gaps are identified: (i) the lack of standardised, validated analytical methods for emerging contaminants; (ii) limited mechanistic understanding of probiotic stability and functionality in beverage systems; and (iii) insufficient integration of culturally adaptive, consumer-centred policy strategies. Future research should prioritise harmonised analytical frameworks, scalable and sustainable detection technologies, a clearer understanding of probiotic mechanisms, and comprehensive nutritional databases. Strong multisectoral collaboration among scientists, industry, and policymakers is crucial to translate these advances into effective public health actions. Collectively, this review highlights the need for an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that unites technological innovation, nutritional science, and evidence-based regulation to ensure the safety of food and beverages worldwide.