Enterobacter Sakazakii Blog : Enterobacter Sakazakii Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark Law Firm : Enterbacter Sakazakii Blog

We first took a look at what Dr. John Hong, MD, was writing because he was mentioning Enterobacter Sakazakii.   We kept reading his column at The Hook because in writing as Dr. Hook, Dr. Hong is a really funny guy.

"Eat up! But be sure food is bacteria-free" is Dr. Hong's walk through today's dangerous food environment.   It's a hoot and well worth the read.

The Hook says: Dr. Hook cracks a joke or two, but he's a renowned physician with a local practice. They invite Emails to the Doctor with questions.

From its local weather report, we think The Hook and Dr. Hong are based in Charlottesville, Virginia

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The Codex Alimentarius Commission, created in 1963 by the United Nations and the World Health Organization to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts such as codes of practice under the Joint UN/WHO Food Standards Programme, has agreed to a new benchmark for powdered milk.

The new standard was adopted to reduce the risk of Enterobacter sakazakii, a bacteria that causes severe illness in babies and small children. The code sets maximum limits for the bacteria and provides guidelines on how to produce and handle prepared powdered formula.

All members of the Commission accepted the need for strict measures on this product, but some developing countries, led by Indonesia, inquired about possible alternative testing methods at lower cost.

Cuba pressed "for more scientific analysis of safe levels of bacteria, as well as a possible funding source for testing." The countries raised the possibility that the Codex Commission could provide more support for developing countries in meeting Codex standards, with the the UN and the WHO playing a greater role in capacity building.

As shown by their reservations with regard to standards that would require using costly production techniques, developing countries were concerned over potential implications for their export capacity and competitiveness.

Throughout discussion about standard adoption on June 30th, Commission members from various developing countries stressed the need for consumer safety - not only for exported goods, but also for products used domestically - while also voicing concerns with regard to resource constraints and difficulties they face in standard implementation.

Go here for a pretty good summary of the 31st annual meeting of the Commission.

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For those interested in E. sakazakii, the place to be in the middle of January in Dublin, Ireland. See attached brochure.



The UCD Centre for Food Safety is engaged in the following research:

a. Development of an efficient capture-detection strategy for E. sakazakii in desiccated milk product and other base powders. This will be evaluated against the standardized US-FDA method requiring a 5-day test.

b. Determine the genetic relationship(s) by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), among a large collection of Enterobacter sakazakii from desiccated product, the processing plant environment and fatal cases of infection. Define isolate biotypes among these groups based on computational evaluation of macrorestriction DNA profiles.

c. Evaluate the thermotolerance characteristics among representatives of the biotypes as identified by PFGE.

d. Describe the molecular mechanisms contributing to the organism’s ability to survive under extreme dry-stress conditions.

Enterobacter sakazakii is a Gram-negative bacillus and a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, genus Enterobacter. E. sakazakii is an emerging pathogen associated with meningitis and necrotisingenterocolitis in immunocompromised infants. Case mortality rates vary from 40-80%; with the majority of those who survive Enterobacter associated meningitis (94%) developing an irreversible neurological sequalae.

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Dupont Qualicon's  BAX (R) system is the choice of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People's Republic of China as the official method for pathogen detection in food imports and exports.

The decision by AQSIQ names the automated BAX(R) system as an approved PCR method for detecting Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni and E. sakazakii in food.
PRC officials are quoted in a statement from Dupont. In part, it said:

"When monitoring food imports and exports, efficiency is critical," said
Qin Zhenkui, president of the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ), AQSIQ. "PCR technology can provide the speed, sensitivity and accuracy in routine food testing that allows our agency to make faster release decisions with a high degree of confidence."

Another food safety monitoring authority in China -- the Beijing MunicipalCenter for Food Safety Monitoring (BFSM) -- is already using the BAX(R)
detection system to provide technical support for food safety management of the Beijing municipal government and the 2008 athletic competition.


"This is good news from AQSIQ," said Kevin Huttman, president - DuPont Qualicon. "Protecting the food supply is a major global concern, and we understand that China is also facing the increasing demands and emerging challenges on food safety. We're pleased that the BAX(R) system is helping government agencies in China and around the world with cost-effective and highly accurate food safety testing."

For the complete statement from Dupont, go here.

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