# Hidden middle governance reduces antibiotic residue health risks and food loss in aquatic supply chains

## TL;DR

Improving governance in the hidden middle of aquatic supply chains reduces antibiotic-related health risks and food loss in China.

## Contribution

A data-driven optimization model is introduced to reduce food loss and health risks from antibiotic residues in aquatic supply chains.

## Key findings

- Antibiotic residues above legal limits caused 44,200 tons of food loss and health risks in six Chinese provinces.
- An optimized sampling strategy reduced food loss by 14,702 tons and health risks by 77%.
- The optimized approach outperformed current monitoring schemes by reducing food loss and risks further.

## Abstract

The “hidden middle” of food supply chains, referring to the small- and medium-scale intermediaries linking producers to markets, often obscures food safety risks and exacerbates losses. Integrating aquatic product testing data from 247 Chinese prefectures (2015–2022), we assessed the cross-regional impact of antibiotic residues (ARs) through the hidden middle of China’s aquatic supply chains. We found that AR above legal limits caused 44,200 tons of food loss and health risks exceeding safe thresholds in six provinces. We then developed an optimization model to allocate sampling resources, resulting in 14,702 tons of food loss reduction and 77% decrease in health risks. Relative to current monitoring schemes, the optimized strategy delivered an additional 6,951-ton reduction in food loss and a 17% larger risk reduction per province per year. Our results demonstrate that focusing governance on AR spread through the hidden middle can improve food safety and reduce risks to food security and public health.

•Data-driven mapping identifies antibiotic residue risk in aquatic supply chains•The “hidden middle” obscures antibiotic risks in aquatic supply chains•Residue-related health risks affect consumers in both coastal and inland provinces•Optimized governance efficiently reduces food loss and lowers health risks

Data-driven mapping identifies antibiotic residue risk in aquatic supply chains

The “hidden middle” obscures antibiotic risks in aquatic supply chains

Residue-related health risks affect consumers in both coastal and inland provinces

Optimized governance efficiently reduces food loss and lowers health risks

Aquatic science; Aquatic biology; Food science; Food microbiology; Aquaculture; Aquaculture diseases