Bacteroides Microbial Source Tracking Markers Perform Poorly in Predicting Enterobacteriaceae and Enteric Pathogen Contamination of Cow Milk Products and Milk-Containing Infant Food

Consumption of microbiologically contaminated food is one of the leading causes of diarrheal diseases. Understanding the source of enteric pathogens in food is important to guide effective interventions. Enterobacteriaceae bacterial assays typically used to assess food safety do not shed light on the source. Source-specific Bacteroides microbial source tracking (MST) markers have been proposed as alternative indicators for water fecal contamination assessment but have not been evaluated as an alternative fecal indicator in animal-derived foods. This study tested various milk products collected from vendors in urban Kenyan communities and infant foods made with the milk (n = 394 pairs) using conventional culture methods and TaqMan qPCR for enteric pathogens and human and bovine-sourced MST markers. Detection profiles of various enteric pathogens and Bacteroides MST markers in milk products differed from that of milk-containing infant foods. MST markers were more frequently detected in infant food prepared by caregivers, indicating recent contamination events were more likely to occur during food preparation at home. However, Bacteroides MST markers had lower sensitivity in detecting enteric pathogens in food than traditional Enterobacteriaceae indicators. Bacteroides MST markers tested in this study were not associated with the detection of culturable Salmonella enterica and Shigella sonnei in milk products or milk-containing infant food. The findings show that while Bacteroides MST markers could provide valuable information about how foods become contaminated, they may not be suitable for predicting the origin of the enteric pathogen contamination sources.

Health-related marketing messages on product labels of commercial infant and toddler food packaging in Australia: a cross-sectional audit

BackgroundProper nutrition in early childhood is essential to ensure optimal growth and development. Use of ‘better-for-you’ features on food packaging position products as healthier for children. This study aims to systematically explore the use of better-for-you labelling on infant and toddler food packaging.MethodsA cross-sectional audit of health and nutrition claims, text and images used as ‘better-for-you’ features present on infant and toddler food packaging. Data on infant and toddler food packaging were collected from five large grocery stores in Adelaide, Australia in 2019. The content of 282 unique commercial products (n=215 infant foods, n=67 toddler foods) were analysed for explicit and implicit features positioning them as better-for-you, including health and nutrition claims as well as text and images representing ‘natural.’ResultsAt least one feature of better-for-you positioning was identified on all food packaging coded. All products had characteristics coded as ‘natural’. Almost one-fifth (17%) of the products included statements in addition to mandatory allergen labelling that their products were ‘free from’ certain allergens, or gluten. One-third of the labels had statements related to enhancing development of taste, oro-motor skills and other aspects of childhood development. Of the fruit and vegetable-based infant foods displaying a sugar statement suggesting a low sugar content, 85% were sweetened with fruit puree.ConclusionsThe use of better-for-you features on infant and toddler food packaging is common and pervasive. Allergen-free and developmental claims are being used to position infant and toddler foods as better-for-you. Regulation of toddler food products separately from adult food is required, as is tighter regulation of the appropriate use of sugar and fruit puree statements on infant and toddler food packaging.

Proximate analysis and formulation of weaning food using germinated cereals, pulses and ground nut

A combination of nutritionally inferior diets and improper feeding practices are major contributing factors to the development of childhood malnutrition. Complementary feeding improvement should be of highest priority for nutrition of infant and young children containing all essential nutrients at required amount. The objective of this study was designed to investigate the inclusion of weaning food formulation and evaluating compositional and functional properties of the products. The analysis undertaken in this study was infant food formulation, proximate composition, mineral concentration and sensory properties. The moisture content in this study ranged from 1.49 ± 0.12 to 3.89 ±0.12, crude protein from 15.09 ± 0.05 to 16.79± 0.01, crude fat from 11.11 ± 0.07 to 12.80 ± 0.00, total ash from 2.06 ± 0.03 to 2.21 ± 0.00, carbohydrate from 65.9740 ± 0.24 to 68.2641 ± 0.14 and energy value ranged from 431.68 ± 0.05 to 449.18 ± 0.57. From the result provided, sample-A contained the highest protein, moisture, fat content than sample-B. But carbohydrate and energy are highest in sample-B than sample-A. The two macro minerals mg/100 g of Ca and Zn in the study were ranged from lower 0.60±0.07 to 0.79±0.01 and 1.05±0.01 to 2.44±0.06 respectively. Beta-carotene is varied from 0.90±o.01 to 1.17±0.00. Sensory parameters such as colour, appearance, texture, taste, aroma and overall acceptability is high in sample-A than to sample-B. Finally, from the general trend observed in this study that both the weaning foods prepared from cereal, legume, pulse flour provided better nutritional and functional compositions to meet nutrient dense of infant foods. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2021, 5 (2), 32-42

Assessment of Citrinin in Spices and Infant Cereals Using Immunoaffinity Column Clean-Up with HPLC-Fluorescence Detection

Historically, the analysis of citrinin has mainly been performed on cereals such as red yeast rice; however, in recent years, more complex and abnormal commodities such as spices and infant foods are becoming more widely assessed. The aim of this study was to develop and validate clean-up methods for spices and cereal-based infant foods using a citrinin immunoaffinity column before HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection. Each method developed was validated with a representative matrix, spiked at various citrinin concentrations, based around European Union (EU) regulations set for ochratoxin A (OTA), with recoveries >80% and % RSD <9% in all cases. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were established at 1 and 3 µg/kg for spices and 0.1 and 0.25 µg/kg for infant cereals, respectively. These methods were then tested across a variety of spices and infant food products to establish efficacy with high recoveries >75% and % RSD <5% across all matrices assessed. Therefore, these methods proved suitable for providing effective clean-up of spices and infant cereals, enabling reliable quantification of citrinin detected. Samples such as nutmeg and infant multigrain porridge had higher levels of citrinin contamination than anticipated, indicating that citrinin could be a concern for public health. This highlighted the need for close monitoring of citrinin contamination in these commodities, which may become regulated in the future.

Evaluation of Food Safety of Commercial Baby Foods according to Legal Regulations

It has recently been recognized that some commercial infant formulae have, due to spoilage and pathogen microorganisms, which are detected risks to health, been recalled and reported in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed on notification lists. The risk of microbial contamination from the environment or from the addition of ingredients to cereal-based follow-on formulae (FOF) and powdered infant foods (PIF) products could occur under poor hygienic conditions. This project was designed to evaluate the associated risks of Cronobacter sakazakii, Salmonella, Total Coliform, E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Ochratoxin-A in PIF, FOF and rice flour products marketed in Turkey. Seventy-four baby formulae and thirteen rice flour trademarks obtained in 2018 randomly from different markets in Samsun, Kars, and Adana in Turkey. Salmonella, C. sakazakii, Coliform, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus were analyzed using the ISO 6579:2002, ISO/TS 22964:2006, MPN, FDA (2001), FDA (1998) and FDA (2012) methods, respectively. C. sakazakii was isolated from 7/74 FOF products and 4/13 rice flour products, yielding 12.64% prevalence. Salmonella, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes were not detected in any of the samples. The FOF products, including cereals of different origins and one rice flour sample (7.69%), were found to be contaminated with B. cereus (6.76%) and B. subtilis (5.41%). OTA values were found to be above the legal limits in 4.05% (3/74) FOF products. These results suggest that routine quality controls and hazard and risk analysis for infant foods have to be much more rigorous in terms of the potential risk of microbiological contamination.

Determinación de micotoxinas presentes en alimentos de consumo infantil comercializados en México

Los cereales y sus subproductos son la base de la alimentación en México y en países en desarrollo. El cereal seco es un alimento basado en granos de cereales y/o leguminosas que se elaboran para lograr un escaso contenido de humedad y se fragmentan para permitir su dilución con agua, leche y otro líquido conveniente para niños y lactantes. Los efectos adversos de las micotoxinas incluyen problemas en el crecimiento infantil, defectos en el desarrollo del tubo neural, daños al sistema inmunológico, enfermedades renales, y mayores probabilidades de desarrollar cáncer de hígado y esófago. Por lo cual, su estudio es de gran importancia en lo que respecta a la salud pública. Las aflatoxinas son carcinógenos potentes que pueden afectar especialmente al hígado y al riñón; son causa de cáncer hepático y se han relacionado con otros tipos de cáncer. El presente trabajo consistió en determinar la cantidad de aflatoxinas (AF) totales en alimentos de consumo infantil, extrayéndose de éstos mediante columnas de anticuerpos monoclonales para conocer sus niveles de concentración con el método "Aflatest - Vicam". Las muestras analizadas fueron principalmente cereales para consumo infantil entre otros productos como avenas, galletas y frituras. Los resultados reportaron que el 83.3% de los productos analizados se encontraban libres de aflatoxinas, mientras que el 16.7% arrojaron concentraciones mínimas que no rebasaron los límites máximos permisibles por la NOM-187-SSAI/SCFI-2002, la cual establece 20 µg/kg de concentración máxima en harinas y cereales. Cereals and their by-products are the basis of food in Mexico and developing countries. Dry cereal is a food based on grains of cereals and/or leguminous plants which are made to achieve a low moisture content and are fragmented to allow dilution with water, milk and other liquid liquid suitable for infants and infants. Adverse effects of mycotoxins include problems in childhood growth, defects in the development of the neuronal tube, damage to the immune system kidney diseases, and more likely to develop liver cancer and esophageal cancer. Therefore, his study is of great importance in regards to public health. Aflatoxins are potent carcinogens that can affect any organ or system, and especially to the liver and kidney; they cause liver cancer and have been linked to other types of cancer. The present work consisted of determining the amount of total aflatoxins (AF) in infant foods by monoclonal antibodies to know their concentration levels by the "aflatest - vicam" method, the samples analysed were mainly cereals for infant consumption among other products such as oats, biscuits and fritters. The results reported that 83.3% of the products analysed were free of aflatoxins, while 16.7% reported minimal concentrations, thus not exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations of the NOM-187-SSAI/SCFI-2002 which sets 20 µg/kg maximum concentration in flour and cereals.

Development of a legume-enriched feed for treatment of severe acute malnutrition

Background: Outcomes in children hospitalised with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remain poor. The current milk-based formulations focus on restoring weight-gain but fail to address modification of the integrity of the gut barrier and may exacerbate malabsorption owing to functional lactase, maltase and sucrase deficiency. We hypothesise that nutritional feeds should be designed to promote bacterial diversity and restore gastrointestinal (GI) barrier function. Methods: Our major objective was to develop a lactose-free, fermentable carbohydrate-containing alternative to traditional F75 and F100 formulae for the inpatient treatment of SAM. New target nutritional characteristics were developed and relevant food and infant food specific legislation were reviewed. Suitable certified suppliers of ingredients were identified. Processing and manufacture steps were evaluated and optimised for safety (nutritional, chemical and microbiological), and efficacy at meeting target characteristics (lactose-free, containing resistant starch 0.4-0.5% final product weight). Results: A final validated production process was developed and implemented to produce a novel food product for the inpatient treatment of SAM in children in Africa designed to reduce risk of osmotic diarrhoea and support symbiotic gut microbial populations. The final product matched the macronutrient profile of double-concentrated F100, adhered to all relevant legislation regulating infant foods, was lactose free, and contained 0.6% resistant starch. Chickpeas were selected as the source of resistant starch, since they are widely grown and eaten throughout Africa. Micronutrient content could not be matched in this ready-to-use product, so this was replaced at the point of feeding, as was fluid lost through concentration. Conclusions: The processes and product described illustrate the development steps for a novel nutritional product. The new feed product was ready for evaluation for safety and efficacy in a phase II clinical trial in Ugandan children admitted to hospital with SAM (Modifying Intestinal MicroBiome with Legume-Based feed 2: MIMBLE feed 2 (ISRCTN10309022)).