Cronobacter in Infant Food – Risks, Legal Requirements and Laboratory Analysis
Cronobacter is a bacterium that represents a significant microbiological risk in infant food, particularly in powdered infant formula. Due to the highly sensitive immune systems of newborns, even very low levels of contamination can lead to serious health consequences.
Where does Cronobacter occur?
This bacterium most commonly poses a risk in:
powdered infant formula
follow-on formula
instant food products for infants
It is particularly dangerous because it can survive in dry conditions and shows resistance to low temperatures, increasing the risk of contamination during production and preparation. The most vulnerable groups are newborns, premature infants, and babies with weakened immune systems.
Legal requirements (EU regulation)
According to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, strict criteria are set for the presence of Cronobacter.
For dehydrated infant formula and dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants under 6 months:
Cronobacter must not be present in 10 g of the product throughout its shelf life.
Ensure the safety of infant food in time
Controlling the presence of Cronobacter is not only a regulatory requirement, but also a crucial step in protecting the most vulnerable group of consumers – infants.
Sample Control laboratory performs accredited microbiological testing of infant food in accordance with current EU regulations.
Contact us for analysis and ensure your products meet the highest safety standards.
PFAS in Cosmetics: A Challenge for Product Safety
The cosmetics industry is continuously developing products with improved durability, water resistance, and texture. However, increasing regulatory and scientific attention is focused on PFAS compounds (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Presence and contamination of meat with perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds
Perfluoroethyl compounds (PFAS) is a collective term for a very large group of fluorinated compounds, including oligomers and polymers, consisting of neutral and anion surface active compounds with high heat, chemical and biological inertness. Perfluorinated compounds are generally hydrophobic but also lipophobic and therefore will not accumulate in fat tissues as is usually the case with other persistent halogenated compounds. An important subgroup are (per) fluorinated organic surfactants, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane acid (PFOA). For PFOS and PFOA, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for humans of 150 ng/kg body weight and 1.5 μg/kg body weight per day (EFSA 2008).