Impact of animal feeding on the nutritional value and safety of food of animal origin

The quality, traceability and safety of food of animal origin are affected by several factors, but animal feeding plays one of the most important roles. The basis of the relationship between animal feeding and food quality is the carry-over of some nutrients, tracers and/or contaminants from feed to tissues and, consequently, to food (meat, milk and eggs). As regard the nutrients, an increasing number of papers report the possibility of improving the proportion of some beneficial components in products of animal origin through different dietary strategies. An enrichment of food with omega 3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acids, vitamin A and E and selenium could be obtained including feeds with a high concentration of these nutrients in the animal diet. In addition, some specific tracers (i.e. terpenes or volatile compounds) can be identified and quantified in products of animal origin to establish their geographic origin. Finally, as the demand for safer products is growing not only in EU, but worldwide, all actions to prevent and control the contaminants along the food chain must be implemented. The mycotoxin contamination of seeds and forages represents an emergent problem that can be worsened by the globalisation of trades and global warming. The carry-over of mycotoxins from feed to food of animal origin must be monitored to maintain the content of mycotoxins under the maximum levels established by regulation. In conclusion, animal feeding can exert a great impact on the quality, traceability and safety of food products, in order to satisfy the growing requirements of consumers