Dried baby formula as a source of opportunistic members of Enterobacteriaceae for infants

For evaluation of the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in baby formulas, we collected 60 different samples of powdered infant milk formula and milk-cereal-based infant formula from various supermarkets, shops, and pharmacies. These formulae are recommended for first-day birth and from six months of age. Six (20.0%) and thirteen (43.3%) powdered infant milk formulas and milk-cereal-based infant formulas were contaminated by differ-ent Enterobacteriaceae, respectively involved Enterobacter cloacae ssp. cloacae, Pantoea spp.,and Enterobacter hor-maechei, which were identified using traditional biochemical tests and the Vitek2 compact system. Only five (16.66%) samples investigating milk-cereal-based infant formula type had coliforms count of 4 MPN/g. All species were sus-ceptible to gentamycin, while all were resistant to cephalothin antibiotics. Eventually, 20.0% of powdered infant milk formula samples were unacceptable referred to Egyptian standards and most of the comparable international standards. All milk-cereal-based infant formula samples were agreeable with Egyptian standards and FSANZ standards, as they establish a limit of coliforms count <10 MPN/g and 20 MPN/g, respectively. In the study, we focused on the con-tamination of powdered milk baby formula by Enterobacteriaceae, which may cause significant health problems in immature and immunocompromised infants. The dried infant formula factories are more needful for good hygiene and safety systems applications. This study is one of the fewest studies conducted in Egypt to isolate Enterobacteriace-ae members from dried foods, especially milk-cereal-based infant formula.