Enterobacter sakazakii found rarely in infant formula
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recently conducted a targeted food surveillance to assess the situation of Enterobacter sakazakii in powdered infant formula. "Enterobacter sakazakii can be found in the environment, but it generally causes disease only in people with weakened immune systems. Enterobacter sakazakii can cause invasive infection such as bacteria in blood or brain infection.
Pre-term infants, neonates (28 days old or below), infants less than 2 months of age, low-birth-weight infants (below 2.5 kg) and infants with weakened immunity, are at greater risk," a CFS spokesman said today (December 21). The centre collected 100 samples of powdered infant formula from the local market for testing of Enterobacter sakazakii. The samples, which involve 17 different brands, are from different countries.
All results were satisfactory. "The World Health Organisation recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. For those who are not breastfed, risk of infection can be greatly reduced by correctly preparing and storing the powdered infant formula.
Reconstitution of powdered infant formula with water that is no less than 70 degrees Celsius can significantly inactivate Enterobacter sakazakii. Feeds prepared in advance should be cooled immediately after preparation, stored in a refrigerator and used within 24 hours of preparation. Reconstituted feed should be re-warmed, no more than 15 minutes, immediately before feeding," the spokesman said.
"For high-risk infants who cannot be breastfed, caregivers should use commercially sterile liquid formula," he added. The spokesman also urged the trade to implement preventive measures (such as good manufacturing practice) as well as monitoring and environmental management programmes to reduce the risk of product contamination.
Enterobacter sakazakii, a gram-negative bacillus, is a rare cause of bloodstream and central nervous system infections. In 2007, following extensive study, it was proposed that the original taxonomy of Enterobacter sakazakii be revised, to consist of five new species moved to a new genus, identified as "Cronobacter". (1) A review of the what, the how, and the why the change was first proposed, and why it was eventually approved, provides an insight into the related scientific process of taxonomy at work, involving this notorious neonatal pathogen.
Biography: Dr Jeffrey M. Farber gained an MSc and PhD from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in Medical Microbiology & Immunology and Food Microbiology respectively. He worked as a research scientist and as Division Chief in the Microbiology Research Division before becoming Associate-Director of the Bureau of Microbial Hazards Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada where he is currently the Director. Dr Farber`s major interests are Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacter sakazakii in foods, produce safety, molecular typing, food safety risk assessment and policy. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Food Microbiology; a reviewer for a number of other Journals; and Content Editor for IAFP Report. He is also an Adjunct Professor, at the University of Ottawa where he co-supervise undergraduate and graduate students; sits on a number of graduate student advisory committees; and is a member of thesis committees. Dr Farber is the treasurer of the International Commission on the Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF), and is a Past-President of the International Association for Food Protection.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted 30 new international standards and guidelines to improve food safety and protect consumers, including some that impact powdered infant formula. The Codex changes came during a just ended week-long meeting.
Biography: Dr. Keith Lampel is director of the Division of Microbiology at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). He joined the FDA as a research microbiologist in 1987 after five years as a senior staff fellow at the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 
Biography: Dr. Han Joosten is a Senior Scientist at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. At Nestle since 1996, he is responsible for providing scientific guidance on various research projects and early identification of emerging microbiological safety issues. He also provides advice to the business and quality management on analytical methods, hurdle technology, safety assessments and HACCP.
Editor's Note: This is another report on the presentations that were made in Dublin earlier this year at the 1st International Meeting on Cronobacter (Enterobacter Sakazakii).
Professor Fanning received an Honours BSc in Biochemistry from NUI, Cork, where he also completed his PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Current research interests include the application of molecular methods to Food Safety to control zoonotic microorganisms associated with human disease. A significant part of this work relates to the characterization of the genetic mechanisms contributing to the emergence of multiple drug resistance (MDR); the role of membrane bound efflux pumps in MDR and virulence and how these phenotypes are regulated at a local and global level. 
Biography: Peter Kuhnert is working at the University of Bern, Switzerland as an associate professor in bacteriology. He completed a PhD in molecular biology studying gene regulation of the porcine TNF-locus.
Biography: After completing a PhD at Nottingham Trent University, Carol Iversen worked for Nestlé Research Centre, Switzerland, where she led an international collaboration to define the taxonomy of Enterobacter sakazakii and propose a new genus, Cronobacter. 
Being diplomatic about it, they also recognized both the memory of Dr. Riichi Sakazaki (August 21, 1920 - January 11, 2002) for whom the organism is named (see picture) and Dr. Don J. Brenner, Frances Brenner, Richard Fanning, Arnold J. Steigerwalt, and the late Mary Alyce Fife-Asbury who were all involved in the original Centers on Disease Control(CDC) studies that led to it being recognized as a separate species. They also gave a salute to Dr. Harry Muytjens for "his pioneering work in uncovering its ecology and epidemiology in cases of neonatal meningitis and the important role of powdered infant formula."
This week, Patrick and Michelle L. Korte, Daniel’s parents, sued Mead Johnson Nutritionals, the spin-off of Bristol Myers Squibb Co. that makes the Enfamil Powdered Human Milk Fortifier.
The Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards were recently announced at the UK's National Space Centre in Leicester. 
It’s very disturbing to learn that children face the risk of infection and even death because of the brainwashing of mothers that milk formula is better than mother’s milk for their babies. It just goes to show the power of persuasion, the ability of the subliminal advertising of the pharmaceutical and food companies to manipulate mothers. It has overturned the age-old proven practice that has assured the survival of the human race. Breast-feeding has been the way from the beginning of human existence and in this short past forty years it has been undone.
Paul Duchesne, a Health Canada spokesperson, said the newest release gives additional information on Wild Vineyard products that pose a health risk. 
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.
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.
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.
encouraged to breast-feed their infants exclusively with breast milk for the first six months of the infant's life and thereafter to continue breast-feeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to the age of two years. 
Most infant milk supplements get contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii, which causes meningitis or enteritis, especially in infants, and that the World Health Organisation has issued strict guidelines about these products. 
Nevertheless, sometimes we get something that gives us one of those Hmmmm moments. Information we recieved this morning from Irving, TX-based Produce Safety & Security prompted one of those moments. PDSC on those Pink Sheets "is promoting their patented ozone systems, equipment and machinery and other proprietary sanitizing product lines on a worldwide basis to commercial, government and major industrial users."
Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health and Nutrition at Safefood warned that powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and has the potential to cause illness if not prepared properly. In rare circumstances, powdered infant formula can contain the bacterium Enterobacter sakazakii (E.sakazakii) and other harmful bacteria. These bacteria can cause illness in infants. Babies under 2 months are most at risk. However, making up the formula using water that is above 70°C will kill E.sakazakii and any other bacteria like salmonella that may be present, said Dr Foley-Nolan