Zebrafish as an animal model for food safety research: trends in the animal research

Toxicity studies in mammals continue to be the most appropriate model for predicting risk in 5 humans, but they tend to be expensive and time-consuming. In the aftermath of the genetic 6 sequencing of zebrafish (Danio rerio), that species showed to be highly genetically homologous 7 to humans. The use of the zebrafish model to assess food toxicity is already a reality as it is 8 capable of biological processes difficult to reproduce in vitro. Studies of complex mechanisms 9 of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion as well as cellular and tissue interactions 10 are of great information value resulting in time, space and cost savings, when compared to 11 studies with rodents. This review addresses the relevance of zebrafish model in food safety 12 research, both in the use of ingredients and innocuous food additives as well as for establishing 13 levels of safe food contaminant residues present in the environment. Toxicological screening 14 using the zebrafish model integrate the evaluation of teratogenicity, cardiotoxicity, 15 hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrinetoxicity, reproductive and behavioral 16 aspects. These are important endpoints for food safety assessment, which take substantially less 17 time than in mammalian tests. Furthermore, it serves well as a screening test follow-up for 18 validating favorable results in murine models, hence accelerating the risk assessment process 19 of products submitted for approval and registration, prioritizing safe compounds and reducing 20 unnecessary costs in subsequent mammalian studies. In conclusion, zebrafish model can be a 21 useful tool for food safety tests, however, additional studies are needed to further validate this 22 model for registration of new food ingredients and additives