A scoping review on the presence of antibiotic residues in milk and the government strategies to control the use of antibiotics in the milk industry in India

In dairy farms, antibiotics are administered for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. After antibiotic administration, lack of adherence to withdrawal periods and irrational use of antibiotics in the feed may lead to antibiotic residues (AR) in milk. The issue is predominantly concerning in India, as it has the most extensive consumer base in the world. It is a matter of grave concern, as numerous studies have identified that consuming milk contaminated with antibiotics may pose a myriad of health hazards. Therefore, this scoping review was conducted to collate all the available information on AR in milk, its associated health risks, and the government initiatives in place to combat inappropriate antibiotic use in the Indian dairy industry. The review was conducted systematically using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines, 2020 as its framework. A comprehensive search was performed using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Google. A total of 19 articles were retrieved for the AR in milk, and 11 grey literature were identified for the government initiatives to control the use of antibiotics. Analysis of the collated information revealed that tetracyclines were the most commonly occurring AR in milk. Additionally, AMR was identified as the most common health hazard that may arise due to AR in milk, followed by allergic reactions. Finally, the review concluded that there is a requirement for more stringent regulations to curb AR in the dairy industry in India.