A study into the occurrence of Cronobacter spp. in The Netherlands between 2001 and 2005

• Published in: Food control Vol. 21; no. 8; pp. 1127 - 1136
• Main Authors: Kandhai, M.C., Heuvelink, A.E., Reij, M.W., Beumer, R.R., Dijk, R., van Tilburg, J.J.H.C., van Schothorst, M., Gorris, L.G.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2010
• Subjects: anaerobes; bacterial contamination; contamination; Cronobacter sakazakii; dried milk; Enterobacter sakazakii; enterobacter-sakazakii infections; feces; food pathogens; food-production environments; foods; Gram-negative bacteria; Habitats; human feces; Human samples; human skin; humans; identification; infant formulas; ingredients; instant foods; isolation; Market product survey; microbial detection; milk formula; minced meat; neonatal meningitis; opportunistic pathogens; PCR; polymerase chain reaction; powdered infant formula; prevalence; retail marketing; skin; spices; stomoxys-calcitrans; vegetables; Netherlands; Enterobacter sakazakii; Human samples; Habitats; PCR; Market product survey
• ISSN: 0956-7135; 1873-7129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2010.01.007

Cronobacter spp. is an opportunistic pathogen possibly occurring in many different foods and environments. This study reports results from a broad survey of foods manufactured or marketed in The Netherlands, including relevant non-food environments, conducted over a 5-years period (2001–2005). Using a specifically designed real-time polymerase chain reaction method for confirmation, Cronobacter spp. was isolated from milk powders (7/175), powdered formulae for consumers <1 year (8/395), formulae for consumers >1 year (1/5), other powdered instant products (1/182), dry cereals (6/123), raw minced meats (7/222), vegetables (2/47), spices (1/28), human faeces (1/98), and human skin (1/116) samples.