Abstract:
The increasing demand for safe and high-quality pet foods has intensified
the pursuit of sustainable preservation techniques. Pet food recalls are often
linked to pathogenic contaminants like Salmonella, Escherichia coli,
Campylobacter, molds, and mycotoxins, persisting globally. Ionizing radiation
has proven to be effective in mitigating microbial contamination and decon-
taminating mycotoxins, while minimizing the loss of food quality. However,
no research or review articles have been pub
lished in this regard, emphasizing the novelty and originality of this review.
This review provides recent insights into research findings on irradiation
methods and their potential to sterilize and disinfect pet foods, addressing
pathogens and mycotoxins with minimal impact on quality attributes.
Additionally, the critical control points in various pet food manufacturing
processes, preventive measures, and factors affecting irradiation for pet
foods are reviewed. The insights provided in this review underscore the
significance of adopting ionizing radiation as a viable and sustainable pre-
servation technique in the pet food industry.
