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[Microbiological quality of dehydrated and instant products for infants and children ]
M Rivas1, E C Mercado, A H Frade
1Instituto Nacional de Farmacología y Bromatología, Departamento de Biología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Insights
Baby food safety was assessed in 23 lots of dehydrated and instant products. All samples were free of harmful bacteria and toxins, with microbial counts generally below safety limits, indicating good quality.
Area of Science:
- Food Microbiology
- Infant Nutrition
Context:
- Analysis of dehydrated and instant food products for infants and children.
- Assessment of microbiological safety and quality parameters.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the microbiological safety of baby food products.
- To compare analytical results with Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) specifications.
Summary:
- 115 samples from 23 lots were analyzed for pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli, etc.) and toxins (aflatoxins), with none detected.
- Aerobic Plate Count (RAP), Moulds and Yeast Count (RHL), and Total Coliforms Count (RCT) were predominantly below established limits (91% ≤3/g, 92% ≤100/g), except for cereals.
- 10.5% of lots failed to meet FAO/WHO specifications, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and potentially refined testing methods for specific product types like cereals.
Impact:
- Findings support FAO/WHO recommendations to focus testing on RAP, RCT, and Salmonella detection.
- Results indicate a generally high safety standard in the analyzed baby food products.
- Highlights the importance of considering sample matrix effects (e.g., cereals) when selecting appropriate microbiological testing methods.
Abstract:
A total of 23 lots of dehydrated and instant products for babies and children were analyzed. Neither Salmonella, C. perfringens, B. cereus, St. aureus, Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, fecal coliforms, E. coli nor aflatoxins could be detected in the 115 samples studied. With the exception of the cereals, results obtained for the Aerobic Plate Count (RAP), the Moulds and Yeast Count (RHL) and the Total Coliforms Count (RCT) were, respectively, 91% equal of lower then 3 per gram, and 92% lower than 100 per gram. The results obtained justify the proposition of consultants of FAO/WHO, to limit determination to RAP, RCT, and investigation of Salmonella. According to specifications of FAO/WHO, 10,5% of the lots examined would be considered non acceptable. With regard to the cereals, the lower sensitivity of the used techniques, due to the physical sample characteristics, makes it advisable to adopt RHL here, too.