Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Prevalence of Cronobacter spp. in infant formula and baby foods in Saudi Arabia

International Conference on Food Microbiology

August 08-10, 2016 Birmingham, UK

Mahmoud H Abughoush, Murad A Al-Holy and Fahd Al-Mutawzi

Hashemite University, Jordan
University of Hail, KSA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic food borne pathogen that might cause severe consequences in infants and neonates such as meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis and death in some instances. The outbreaks are associated with the consumption of powdered infant formula and baby foods. The present research was carried out to study the prevalence of C. sakazakii in the infant milk formulas and cereal based baby foods. Forty eight different samples that belong to 12 brand names of infant formulas and baby foods were purchased from local grocery stores and analyzed for the presence of Cronobacter spp., coliform and total bacterial count. The presence of Cronobacter was analyzed using the standard international ISO method. This study showed that Cronobacter was isolated from 7.7% of the samples results and coliform from 15.4% of the samples. Also, high total counts in some of the analyzed samples were enumerated (2.82 CFU/g). This study will enabled us to have a clear idea about the safety of infant formula and baby foods sold in the local market of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, enabling the development of more effective strategies and interventions for its control in such products and hence improving infant safety.

Biography :

Email: abughoush@hotmail.com