# Risk of antimicrobial resistance spreading via food loss and waste

## TL;DR

Food loss and waste may spread antimicrobial resistance through improper management, highlighting the need for better waste strategies to protect public health.

## Contribution

This review identifies food loss and waste as a previously overlooked reservoir and vector for antimicrobial resistance genes and bacteria.

## Key findings

- Bioconversion processes can reduce AMR under optimized conditions, but untreated waste products may still pose risks.
- Landfilling and open dumping of food waste increase AMR risks through co-contamination with pollutants like heavy metals.
- FLW should be integrated into AMR surveillance and managed to limit environmental and public health risks.

## Abstract

While the agricultural sector is a known contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the potential role of food loss and waste (FLW) in AMR dissemination has been largely overlooked. FLW, a byproduct of inefficient food systems, poses economic, environmental, and food security challenges. It may also act as a reservoir and vector for antimicrobial resistance genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, contributing to the environmental spread of AMR if improperly managed. This narrative review assessed the presence, fate, and risks of AMR in FLW management.

Peer-reviewed studies were identified through systematic searches in PubMed and Web of Science using keywords related to food waste, AMR, and treatment methods. Additional studies were retrieved through reference screening. Only English-language articles addressing AMR in the context of FLW were included.

Bioconversion processes such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and conversion to animal feed can reduce antimicrobial resistance genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria under optimized conditions. However, without adequate treatment, end products like fertilizers or biomaterials may still pose AMR risks. In contrast, FLW disposal in landfills and open dumps exacerbates both greenhouse gas emissions and AMR risks, due to co-contamination with other AMR-promoting pollutants like heavy metals and microplastics. AMR can spread through multiple pathways, including leachate, aerosols, wildlife, and direct human contact.

FLW should be recognized as a potential AMR source, requiring improved management strategies and integration into AMR surveillance. This review highlights the need to both reduce antimicrobial use and minimize FLW generation to limit environmental and public health risks.