Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of Cronobacter sakazakii and microbiological parameters in dairy products associated with a food alert. Ninety dairy product samples were analyzed, including seven commercial brands and two product types (liquid and powdered) from four countries. Aerobic plate count (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae count were performed according to Chilean standards. Cronobacter spp. and C. sakazakii were identified by polymerase chain reaction real time amplification of rpoB and cgcA genes and the genotype by multilocus sequence typing. Eighty-eight percent of dairy products showed APC higher than the detection limit. Fifty percent of liquid commercial brand samples contained APC: 2.6, 2.3, 1.1, and 2.9 CFU/mL in brands A, C, E, and G, respectively. Results for powdered commercial brands were 3.0, 3.6, and 5.7 CFU/g in brands B, D, and F, respectively. Maximum count (5.7 CFU/g) occurred in brand F dairy product manufactured in Chile. Enterobacteriaceae were found in 55% of the samples, 64% in liquid and 51% in powdered commercial brands. In 50% of brands B, D, and E, samples contained 2.9, 2.8, and 2.7 log CFU/g, respectively. Only liquid commercial brands from the United States had Enterobacteriaceae values between 0.1 and 4.5 CFU/mL. Seventeen suspicious strains were isolated and nine were identified as Enterobacter spp. Only eight suspicious strains from four powdered commercial brands (Chile and Singapore) were confirmed as C. sakazakii by rpoB and cgcA gene amplification and fusA sequencing. C. sakazakii prevalence in the analyzed samples was 8.8%. There were 11% of powdered milk brands that contained APC between 4.0 and 4.7 log CFU/g and 55% of the samples contained Enterobacteriaceae. C. sakazakii was found in dairy products manufactured in Chile and Singapore. On the basis of this information, the Chilean Ministry of Health (RSA) decreed a national and international food alert and recalled all the product batches that resulted positive in the present study from supermarkets and pharmacies.
Highlights
On June 2, 2017 the Chilean Ministry of Health issued a national and international food alert as a result of the presence of Cronobacter sakazakii in two powdered formula samples intended for children under 10
Powdered infant milk formulas (PIF) are not sterile products; according to the specifications established by the Codex Alimentarius, this type of product should be treated as a possible food safety issue for high risk populations, such infants and neonates, due to the presence of the C. sakazakii pathogen
A total of 11% of the powdered milk brands contained Aerobic plate count (APC) between 4.0 and 4.7 log CFU/g, which is considered as the rejection level by the updated Chilean Food Sanitary Regulations (RSA)
Summary
On June 2, 2017 the Chilean Ministry of Health issued a national and international food alert as a result of the presence of Cronobacter sakazakii in two powdered formula samples intended for children under 10. Researchers from the Universidad del Bío-Bío conducted a study which led to the food alert. This preventive measure was adopted because of the risk of disease associated with Cronobacter spp. and C. sakazakii in hypersensitive groups of the population (Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization [FAO/WHO], 2008; Jason, 2015). Mortality rates are associated with general infection (42–80%) and neonatal meningitis and septicemia (15–25%) (Holý and Forsythe, 2014)
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