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The increasing presence of nanoparticles in food products, especially in those consumed by sensitive populations like infants, raises justified health concerns. The presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in three different commercial infant milk formulas were analyzed. In addition, one maternal food supplement was included in this study. Notably, existing regulations lack specificity regarding the size distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) and the maximum permissible concentrations in commercial infant products. Except in one sample, the total zinc content exceeded the reported amount in the nutritional label, which varied from 34 to 119 µg/g. This work validated the cloud point extraction (CPE) technique for the effective isolation of ZnO-NPs from the selected products. CPE was then used to evaluate the ZnO-NPs concentrations in commercially available infant formulas and maternal supplements. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), the ZnO-NPs and total Zn concentrations were determined. The ZnO-NPs concentration ranged from 16 to 39 µg/g, representing a considerable portion of the total zinc content. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis indicated the presence of nanoparticles with an average diameter of 6.3 nm. The NPs size could determine their cell internalization, and thus, the potential cytotoxic effects are discussed. These findings underscore the need for rigorous isolation and quantification of nanoparticles from infant milk formulas, and as an inevitable first step for in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies to address the potential health impact of nanoparticles in food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSources of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) are desirable to include in infant milk formula (IMF) to mimic the composition and functionality of human milk MFGM. MFGM in its natural form consists of a trilayer structure containing lipids (e.g., cholesterol, phospholipids, gangliosides, ceramides), proteins (e.g., butyrophilin, xanthine oxidase, mucin-1, adipophilin) and glycans (e.g., sialic acid). Components of MFGM have been associated with various biological benefit areas including intestinal, neurocognitive, and immune health. There are many aspects to consider when supplementing IMF with MFGM ingredients, of which the major ones are highlighted and critiqued in this review from an industrial research perspective. Features include compositional unknowns, discussion on how best to incorporate MFGM to IMF, analytical method needs, biological function unknowns, and considerations on how best to communicate MFGM in different contexts. It is hoped that by identifying the key scientific gaps outstanding in this subject area, collective efforts can proceed to ensure the potential impact of MFGM on infant health is realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High perceived pressure to breastfeed and poor perceived quality of health care professional support have been associated with early breastfeeding cessation, guilt, and shame. This is problematic because guilt and shame significantly predict post‐natal anxiety and depression. No previous attempts have been made to provide quantitative evidence for relationships mapped between the post‐natal social context, infant feeding method and post‐natal emotional well‐being. The current study aimed to empirically investigate aforementioned pathways. Structural equation modelling was applied to survey data provided online by 876 mothers. Guilt and shame both significantly predicted anxiety and depression. Poor health care professional support and high pressure to breastfeed increased anxiety and depression, and these effects were explained by indirect pathways through increases in guilt and shame. Formula feeding exclusivity was negatively correlated with post‐natal anxiety symptoms. This finding may be explained by feelings of relief associated with observed infant weight gain and being able to share infant feeding responsibilities others e.g., with one's partner. This relationship was counterbalanced by an indirect pathway where greater formula feeding exclusivity positively predicted guilt, which increased post‐natal anxiety score. While guilt acted as mediator of infant feeding method to increase post‐natal depression and anxiety, shame acted independently of infant feeding method. These identified differences provide empirical support for the transferability of general definitions of guilt (i.e., as remorse for having committed a moral transgression) and shame (i.e., internalisation of transgressive remorse to the self), to an infant feeding context. Recommendations for health care practitioners and the maternal social support network are discussed. Key messages: Guilt and shame are empirically evidenced as distinct, overlapping concepts: guilt is more behaviour‐orientated, while shame is more social context‐orientated.Guilt and shame both predict postnatal depression and anxiety, supporting their conceptualisation as transdiagnostic phenomena.While guilt acts indirectly through one's social context and infant feeding method to increase depression and anxiety, shame acts independently of infant feeding method. General definitions of guilt and shame are thus deemed transferable to an infant feeding context.Recommendations are made to address issues regarding perceived insufficient healthcare professional support and pressure to breastfeed, so to improve postnatal wellbeing and extend any breastfeeding continuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infant milk formulas often contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a highly unsaturated fatty acid that is prone to oxidation. Previously, we reported in oil that the esterified lipid pool is more prone to lipid oxidation than the free pool. However, it is unknown whether added DHA modifies lipid oxidation in infant formula. In the present study, we quantified lipid oxidation rates in infant milk formula containing canola oil (F1) or canola oil supplemented with DHA-ethyl ester (F2). Lipid oxidation kinetics were determined by quantifying esterified and free oxylipins using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) during storage for 21 days at 4 °C. Esterified oxylipins increased in concentration within 3 and 7 days of storage in F2 (with DHA) and F1, respectively. Free oxylipins appeared 7 and 14 days later in F2 and F1, respectively. The kinetic estimates revealed that esterified oxylipins formed at a faster rate in both formulas compared to free oxylipins. Surprisingly, in F2 (which contains DHA), the rates of formation of both esterified and free linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid-derived oxylipins were higher than in F1. This study demonstrated that in food systems, DHA promotes the oxidation of other PUFAs, and that triacylglycerol/esterified lipids are preferentially oxidized over free fatty acids, highlighting the role of triacylglycerols in lipid oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cronobacter species is the most significant foodborne pathogens in infant milk formula (IMF). These pathogens have been incriminated in sever form of neonatal meningitis, sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis with high mortality rate. Aim: The current study was performed to demonstrate the effect of heat stress on Cronobacter spp. (C. sakazakii and C. pulveris) in reconstituted IMF (RIMF). Methods: The reconstituted formula was inoculated with five C. sakazakii isolates and four C. pulveris isolates separately. The nine isolates of Cronobacter spp. were heated in RIMF at 48, 52, 56, 60, 64 and 66°C. The D- and z-values were determined by using linear regression analysis. Results: The D˗values of all isolates of C. sakazakii (CS1, CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS6) at 48°C, 52°C, 56°C, 60°C, 64°C, 66°C ranged from 7.29 ˗ 23.47, 2.77˗15.50, 0.62˗1.04, 0.62˗1.02, 0.62˗1.00, 0.62˗1.00 min, respectively, while the z˗ values extended from 2.50˗4.28°C. The D˗ values of C. pulveris isolates (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) ranged from 7.60 ˗ 22.32, 1.42 ˗ 8.45, 0.62 ˗ 1.08, 0.62 ˗ 0.78, 0.62 ˗ 0.78, 0.62 ˗ 0.79 min. at 48°C, 52°C, 56°C, 60°C, 64°C, 66°C, respectively and the calculated z-values ranged from 3.33 ˗ 4.89°C. Conclusion: This study may contribute to improve the understanding of behavior of C. sakazakii and C. pulveris isolates in RIMF at various heat stress temperature and may participate in effective control of this pathogens in infant's foods production. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(1.000): 108-113]

ABSTRACT: Infant milk formulas are designed to substitute human milk when breastfeeding is unavailable. In addition to human milk and milk-derived products, these formulas can be a vehicle of contaminants. In this work, a multiclass method based on the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) approach was developed for the simultaneous determination of contaminants (n = 45), including mycotoxins and veterinary drug residues, occurring in infant milk formulas. By using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-Orbitrap coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS; Thermo Fisher Scientific), further retrospective analysis of 337 contaminants, including pesticides, was achieved. The method was validated in accordance with European regulations and applied for the analysis of 54 infant milk samples. Risk assessment was also performed. Dexamethasone was detected in 16.6% of samples (range: 0.905–1.131 ng/mL), and procaine benzyl penicillin in 1 sample at a concentration of 0.295 ng/mL. Zearalenone was found in 55.5% of samples (range: 0.133–0.638 ng/mL) and α-zearalenol in 16.6% of samples (range: 1.534–10.408 ng/mL). Up to 49 pesticides, 11 veterinary drug residues, and 5 mycotoxins were tentatively identified via retrospective analysis based on the mass spectral library. These findings highlight the necessity of careful evaluation of contaminants in infant formulas, considering that they are intended for a vulnerable part of the population.

Infant formulas contain nutrients and bioactive ingredients designed to meet the nutrition requirements of infants. The majority of infant formulas are cow's milk (CM) based regular ones. Since CM is one of the most important allergen source, there are specialized formulas such as partially and extensively hydrolyzed, aminoacid-based for CM-allergic infants. In the current study, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) in combination with multivariate analysis was used to identify the molecular differences between commercially available hypoallergenic (HF) and regular formulas (RF) in Turkey. Higher saturated fatty acid (FA) content and qualitatively longer acyl chained FAs were observed in hypoallergenic formulations. The results of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that there were differences between the infrared spectra of the two groups. The HF and RF samples were clearly separated from each other in 1200-800 cm-1 spectral region with 83% variation and 100% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cronobacter sspecies are the most significant foodborne pathogen in infant milk formula (IMF). These pathogens have been incriminated in severe forms of neonatal meningitis, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis with a high mortality rate. Aim: This study was performed to elucidate the effect of heat stress on Cronobacter spp. (C. sakazakii and C. pulveris) in reconstituted IMF (RIMF). Methods: The reconstituted formula was inoculated with five C. sakazakii isolates and four C. pulveris isolates separately. The nine isolates of Cronobacter spp. were heated in RIMF at 48°C, 52°C, 56°C, 60°C, 64°C, and 66°C. The D- and z-values were determined by using linear regression analysis. Results: The D-values of all isolates of C. sakazakii (CS1, CS3, CS4, CS5, and CS6) at 48°C, 52°C, 56°C, 60°C, 64°C, and 66°C were in the ranges 7.29-23.47, 2.77-15.50, 0.62-1.04, 0.62-1.02, 0.62-1.00, 0.62-1.00 minutes, respectively; while, the z-values extended from 2.50°C to 4.28°C. The D- values of C. pulveris isolates (CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4) were in the ranges 7.60-22.32, 1.42-8.45, 0.62-1.08, 0.62-0.78, 0.62-0.78, 0.62-0.79 minutes at 48°C, 52°C, 56°C, 60°C, 64°C, 66°C, respectively and the calculated z-values ranged from 3.33°C to 4.89°C. Conclusion: This study may contribute to improving the understanding of the behavior of C. sakazakii and C. pulveris isolates in RIMF at various heat stress temperatures and may participate in the effective control of these pathogens in infant food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the largest global consumer of infant milk formula (IMF). Chinese consumer preferences towards IMF have evolved over time but have also been rocked in recent years by COVID-19 with major implications for the IMF industry, globally and within China. This study is the first to document parents' preferences toward IMF since the outbreak. We used novel methods to do so, through an online choice experiment of 804 participants that included risk perceptions and socio-demographic variables. Our study finds that Chinese parents continue to prioritize quality and safety attributes of IMF represented by functional ingredients, organic labelling and traceability information. Notably, it also finds greatly increased confidence in Chinese domestically produced IMF and an underlying preference away from expensive products. This implies that the era of 'go for foreign' and 'go for the most expensive' in IMF purchasing may be coming to an end. The shift in sentiment is driven by the longer-term revitalization of the Chinese dairy industry, accelerated by COVID-19. Understanding these trends will be of major benefit to both Chinese producers and non-Chinese exporters of IMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes (BMS) instituted to protect breastfeeding against unethical marketing, has been adopted by many countries, including Bangladesh. Despite national adoption, evidence suggests violations occur and inadequate BMS Code implementation is an issue. The study aimed to assess violations of the International BMS Code and the national 'Breast‐milk Substitutes, Infant Foods, Commercially Manufactured Complementary Foods and the Accessories Thereof (Regulation of Marketing) Act, 2013' of Bangladesh in commercial settings (retail outlets and media) in Bangladesh, for different types of milk, bottles, and teats using a standardized Network for Global Monitoring and Support for Implementation of the Code and Subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions (NetCode) protocol. This cross‐sectional quantitative study was conducted in Bangladesh from January to September 2018 in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet cities. Descriptive statistics were reported and χ2 tests were conducted to assess differences between categorical variables of interest. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. In retail outlets, there were higher proportion of violations observed in Dhaka than in Sylhet and Chattogram (p < 0.001). Significantly greater proportion of violations in product labels occurred among products sold without local distributors compared to others (p < 0.05); violations were higher among "other milk" for children aged 0 to <36 months compared to formulas and growing‐up milk (p < 0.05). Among media channels, internet clips had significantly higher proportions of violations compared to television, radio and newspaper (p < 0.001). BMS Code violations were prevalent in product labels and promotion of products through retail outlets. The study findings highlight the need for specific multisectoral strategies for better enforcement of BMS Code and points to the need for periodic assessment of Code violations. Key messages: This is the first known study documenting violations in retail outlets, online stores, and media using the standard NetCode protocol in Bangladesh.BMS Code violations were high in retail stores and were more prevalent in the capital city compared to others.Violations were significantly higher in the internet compared to radio, television, and newspapers, highlighting the need for strengthening the monitoring of internet‐based promotions.It is essential to allocate resources to sensitize retail stores to the BMS Code to enhance the implementation of the law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infant gut is immature and permeable with high gastric pH, low protease activities and underdeveloped intestinal architecture. Protein digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract of infants is slow and incomplete. During manufacture, infant milk formula (IMF) is typically heat-treated so it is safe for human consumption. This heat treatment causes denaturation and aggregation of milk proteins, and formation of undesirable Maillard reaction products. The aim of this review is to critically summarize the in vitro and preclinical data available on the effect of IMF thermal processing on protein digestion and gut barrier physiology in the immature infant gut. Recent research efforts have focused on reducing thermal loads during IMF manufacturing by sourcing ingredients with low thermal loads, by reducing temperatures during IMF processing itself and by seeking alternative processing technologies. This review also aims to evaluate if these thermal reductions have a knock-on effect on protein digestion and gut barrier health in the infant. The ultimate aim is to create a safe next generation IMF product that more closely mimics human breast milk in its protein digestion kinetics and its ability to promote gut barrier maturity in the infant., (© 2024, The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

The great majority of infant formula (FM) for neonate’s nutrition are produced using ingredients from cow milk. Recently, some countries, such as China and New Zealand, are turning their attention to the use of ovine milk ingredients for FM production. In this study, a pilot plant process has been set up to produce infant formula ingredients from Sarda sheep milk. To meet the nutritional needs of neonates (0–6 and 6–12 months of age) two different liquid milk-derived formulations (IF1 and IF2, respectively) obtained mixing whole milk, skimmed milk, and whey milk ultrafiltration concentrate (retentate) were produced. Compositional analysis of milk, retentate, and the final IFs showed that the two formulations contain elements of nutritional interest, such as well-balanced content of high biological value proteins (casein:whey proteins ratio of 30:70 and 60:40 for IF1 and IF2, respectively), vitamin A, E and B5, cholesterol, minerals, nucleotides, free amino acids and essential fatty acids (n–6:n–3 ~1), compatible with the growth and development needs of neonates. Therefore, the obtained IF1 and IF2 can be proposed as valuable ovine dairy ingredients for FM manufacturing. Further studies will be necessary to verify the adaptability of the developed process from laboratory to industrial scale application.

Abstract Marketing of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) continues to undermine breastfeeding globally, and low income countries experiencing rapid economic growth are especially vulnerable as expanding BMS markets. The objective of the study was to understand the prevalence of exposure to BMS promotions among mothers of children 0–23 months, the frequency and type of contacts between BMS companies and health workers and the presence of educational/informational materials and branded equipment associated with such companies in health facilities in Abidjan using the World Health Organization's NetCode protocol. The methods included structured interviews with health workers and mothers and observations of equipment/materials in a sample of 42 facilities, 330 mothers and 129 health workers. Descriptive statistics were produced, and chi‐squared tests were used to assess differences by child age and facility type. Forty‐three per cent of mothers were advised to feed BMS products in the past 6 months, with a significantly higher percentage of mothers of older children (6–23 months) advised compared to infants 0–5 months. Two thirds (66%) of mothers had seen promotions outside of facilities. Among health workers, 63% were contacted by BMS companies, and only 8% were familiar with the International Code of Marketing of BMS. Differences were found between public/private facilities in the types of requests BMS companies made to health workers. Strong actions are needed in Côte d'Ivoire to prevent BMS promotion in the health system, including increasing health workers' knowledge of the International Code and national regulations, monitoring violations and reaching mothers and families to promote optimal breastfeeding practices.

Marketing of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) continues to undermine breastfeeding globally, and low income countries experiencing rapid economic growth are especially vulnerable as expanding BMS markets. The objective of the study was to understand the prevalence of exposure to BMS promotions among mothers of children 0–23 months, the frequency and type of contacts between BMS companies and health workers and the presence of educational/informational materials and branded equipment associated with such companies in health facilities in Abidjan using the World Health Organization's NetCode protocol. The methods included structured interviews with health workers and mothers and observations of equipment/materials in a sample of 42 facilities, 330 mothers and 129 health workers. Descriptive statistics were produced, and chi‐squared tests were used to assess differences by child age and facility type. Forty‐three per cent of mothers were advised to feed BMS products in the past 6 months, with a significantly higher percentage of mothers of older children (6–23 months) advised compared to infants 0–5 months. Two thirds (66%) of mothers had seen promotions outside of facilities. Among health workers, 63% were contacted by BMS companies, and only 8% were familiar with the International Code of Marketing of BMS. Differences were found between public/private facilities in the types of requests BMS companies made to health workers. Strong actions are needed in Côte d'Ivoire to prevent BMS promotion in the health system, including increasing health workers' knowledge of the International Code and national regulations, monitoring violations and reaching mothers and families to promote optimal breastfeeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Membrane filtered IMF increases goblet cell number and acidic mucus. • Membrane filtered IMF increases trypsin activity in the duodenum. • Membrane filtered IMF increases lactase activity in brush border membrane vesicles. Human breast milk promotes maturation of the infant gastrointestinal barrier, including the promotion of mucus production. In the quest to produce next generation infant milk formula (IMF), we have produced IMF by membrane filtration (MEM-IMF). With a higher quantity of native whey protein, MEM-IMF more closely mimics human breast milk than IMF produced using conventional heat treatment (HT-IMF). After a 4-week dietary intervention in young pigs, animals fed a MEM-IMF diet had a higher number of goblet cells, acidic mucus and mucin-2 in the jejunum compared to pigs fed HT-IMF (P < 0.05). In the duodenum, MEM-IMF fed pigs had increased trypsin activity in the gut lumen, increased mRNA transcript levels of claudin 1 in the mucosal scrapings and increased lactase activity in brush border membrane vesicles than those pigs fed HT-IMF (P < 0.05). In conclusion, MEM-IMF is superior to HT-IMF in the promotion of mucus production in the young gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Amino acid‐based formulas (AAFs) are used for the dietary management of cow's milk allergy (CMA). Whether AAFs have the potential to prevent the development and/or symptoms of CMA is not known. Objective The present study evaluated the preventive effects of an amino acid (AA)‐based diet on allergic sensitization and symptoms of CMA in mice and aimed to provide insight into the underlying mechanism. Methods C3H/HeOuJ mice were sensitized with whey protein or with phosphate‐buffered saline as sham‐sensitized control. Starting 2 weeks before sensitization, mice were fed with either a protein‐based diet or an AA‐based diet with an AA composition based on that of the AAF Neocate, a commercially available AAF prescribed for the dietary management of CMA. Upon challenge, allergic symptoms, mast cell degranulation, whey‐specific immunoglobulin levels, and FoxP3+ cell counts in jejunum sections were assessed. Results Compared to mice fed with the protein‐based diet, AA‐fed mice had significantly lower acute allergic skin responses. Moreover, the AA‐based diet prevented the whey‐induced symptoms of anaphylaxis and drop in body temperature. Whereas the AA‐based diet had no effect on the levels of serum IgE and mucosal mast cell protease‐1 (mMCP‐1), AA‐fed mice had significantly lower serum IgG2a levels and tended to have lower IgG1 levels (P = .076). In addition, the AA‐based diet prevented the whey‐induced decrease in FoxP3+ cells. In sham‐sensitized mice, no differences between the two diets were observed in any of the tested parameters. Conclusion This study demonstrates that an AA‐based diet can at least partially prevent allergic symptoms of CMA in mice. Differences in FoxP3+ cell counts and serum levels of IgG2a and IgG1 may suggest enhanced anti‐inflammatory and tolerizing capacities in AA‐fed mice. This, combined with the absence of effects in sham‐sensitized mice indicates that AAFs for the prevention of food allergies may be an interesting concept that warrants further research.

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China is the largest global consumer of infant milk formula (IMF). Chinese consumer preferences towards IMF have evolved over time but have also been rocked in recent years by COVID-19 with major implications for the IMF industry, globally and within China. This study is the first to document parents’ preferences toward IMF since the outbreak. We used novel methods to do so, through an online choice experiment of 804 participants that included risk perceptions and socio-demographic variables. Our study finds that Chinese parents continue to prioritize quality and safety attributes of IMF represented by functional ingredients, organic labelling and traceability information. Notably, it also finds greatly increased confidence in Chinese domestically produced IMF and an underlying preference away from expensive products. This implies that the era of ‘go for foreign’ and ‘go for the most expensive’ in IMF purchasing may be coming to an end. The shift in sentiment is driven by the longer-term revitalization of the Chinese dairy industry, accelerated by COVID-19. Understanding these trends will be of major benefit to both Chinese producers and non-Chinese exporters of IMF.

Infant milk formula (IMF) products intend to simulate the composition of human milk and meet the nutritional requirements of infants until they become familiar with complementary foods. In addition to meeting nutritional requirements, IMF powders should be stable and rehydrate well up to their use-by date. These requirements can be met by developing balanced formulations and optimizing the parameters used during processing, handling, and storage. Ingredients such as lactoferrin, milk fat globule membrane, probiotics, and prebiotics are often incorporated in some IMF powders. Stability of IMF powders is essential, and it is often compromised by handling and storage at suboptimal temperature and/or relative humidity. Uncontrollable moisture uptake by IMF powders triggers many undesirable phenomena including lowering of glass transition temperature, crystallization of lactose, formation of free fat, undesirable modification of surface composition and morphology, and reduced solubility. Sound understanding of product-process interactions is needed for judicious selection of ingredients and optimization of formulation, processing (e.g., homogenization, evaporation, drying) and storage parameters to produce nutritionally superior IMF powders and ensuring their longer shelf life. In this work, we have systematically reviewed the published works on physicochemical properties of IMF powders and how they are affected by the characteristics of ingredients and parameters used during processing and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Optimal nutrition is one of the most important aspects in the care of infants, especially for the preterm infants and neonates. Until the 1900s, an infant’s survival and health were closly related to the availability of breastmilk. Human milk was and still is the best food for nearly all infants. Besides physical growth, human milk offers a variety of other benefits, including modulation of postnatal intestinal function, maturation of immune system, and has positive effect on brain development. Even though breastfeeding is highly recommended, it may not always be possible, suitable or adequate. Through history, the evolution of infant feeding included wet nursing, bottle feeding, and formula use. Wet nursing was the safest and most common alternative to the breastmilk before bottles and infant milk formula were invented. However, society's negative view of wet nursing together with the invention and improvements of the feeding bottle, the availability of animal’s milk, and advances in milk formula development, gradually led to replacing wet nursing with bottle feeding. Such evolution of infant feeding methods was similar throughout the world and Slovenia followed the trend. In this article, we review the history of different methods of infant feeding, other than breastfeeding, all of which presented an alternative to breastfeeding.

Background: Amino acid‐based formulas (AAFs) are used for the dietary management of cow's milk allergy (CMA). Whether AAFs have the potential to prevent the development and/or symptoms of CMA is not known. Objective: The present study evaluated the preventive effects of an amino acid (AA)‐based diet on allergic sensitization and symptoms of CMA in mice and aimed to provide insight into the underlying mechanism. Methods: C3H/HeOuJ mice were sensitized with whey protein or with phosphate‐buffered saline as sham‐sensitized control. Starting 2 weeks before sensitization, mice were fed with either a protein‐based diet or an AA‐based diet with an AA composition based on that of the AAF Neocate, a commercially available AAF prescribed for the dietary management of CMA. Upon challenge, allergic symptoms, mast cell degranulation, whey‐specific immunoglobulin levels, and FoxP3+ cell counts in jejunum sections were assessed. Results: Compared to mice fed with the protein‐based diet, AA‐fed mice had significantly lower acute allergic skin responses. Moreover, the AA‐based diet prevented the whey‐induced symptoms of anaphylaxis and drop in body temperature. Whereas the AA‐based diet had no effect on the levels of serum IgE and mucosal mast cell protease‐1 (mMCP‐1), AA‐fed mice had significantly lower serum IgG2a levels and tended to have lower IgG1 levels (P =.076). In addition, the AA‐based diet prevented the whey‐induced decrease in FoxP3+ cells. In sham‐sensitized mice, no differences between the two diets were observed in any of the tested parameters. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that an AA‐based diet can at least partially prevent allergic symptoms of CMA in mice. Differences in FoxP3+ cell counts and serum levels of IgG2a and IgG1 may suggest enhanced anti‐inflammatory and tolerizing capacities in AA‐fed mice. This, combined with the absence of effects in sham‐sensitized mice indicates that AAFs for the prevention of food allergies may be an interesting concept that warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neurocognitive development of infants can be positively associated with breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. Differences in dietary lipid quality between human milk and infant milk formula may contribute to this effect. In this review, we describe some of the known differences between human milk and infant milk formula in lipid quality, including fatty acid composition, complex lipids in the milk fat globule membrane as well as the physical properties of lipids and lipid globules. We describe some of the underlying mechanism by which these aspects of lipid quality are thought to modulate infant brain development such as differences in the supply and/or the bioavailability of lipids, lipid bound components and peripheral organ derived neurodevelopmental signals to the infant brain after ingestion and on longer term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of food safety incidents related to domestically produced dairy in China harmed consumer confidence and caused a dramatic decrease in dairy consumption from 2008 to 2010. Compared with previous studies that mainly assessed consumer confidence in food or dairy in general, this study focused on 2 specific dairy products, milk and infant milk formula (IMF). Based on data from 934 Chinese consumers, confidence in the safety of milk and IMF was measured by using a multi-item scale with 2 dimensions—optimism and pessimism. We found that Chinese consumers were optimistic about the safety of milk and IMF but, at the same time, were concerned about the risks related to milk and IMF. Chinese consumers have less confidence in IMF than in milk. Structural equation modeling indicated that consumer trust in manufacturers and third parties in the dairy supply chain and confidence in other foods, such as meat and fish, can foster consumer confidence in the safety of milk and IMF, while the extent of recall of the melamine infant formula incident in 2008 and trait worry exert negative effects. In addition, consumers with more children or less family income are likely to be more confident in domestically produced IMF. These insights into consumer confidence and its determinants can assist dairy supply chains and regulatory institutions in formulating effective risk communication strategies to strengthen consumer confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to find out the differences between infant formula samples and breast milk during the first year of lactation stage for the biochemical compounds. 240 samples of breast milk were collected from healthy mothers aged 18-30 (month 3-11) from breastfeeding from 44 mothers as volunteers to give fixed samples per month for analysis. Infant formal milk samples were collected from companies (Bebelac1, 2; Similac1, 2 and Guigos1,2) from the local market in Najaf governorate. Moisture, ash, protein, lactose and fat were measured. The results showed that the differences between breast milk and Infant formula at the two periods (less than six months and beyond),where infant milk formula contain protein and fat in the first stage higher than breast milk while in the second stage, the fat percentage has decreased in the formula to become breast milk is the highest.The percentage of ash and moisture (after recovery from infant formula) was higher in infant formula than breast milk during the period of lactation (although there were no significant differences in ash). As well as for lactose, infant formula was higher during the study period with significant differences in both stages for the first year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid oxidation (LO) is a recognised problem in dairy powders due to the formation of volatile odour compounds that can negatively impact sensory perception. Three commercial dairy powders, fat-filled whole milk powder (FFWMP), skim milk powder (SMP), and infant milk formula (IMF), stored under different conditions (21 °C, 37 °C, or 25 °C with 50% humidity), were evaluated by consumer acceptance studies, ranked descriptive sensory analysis, and LO volatile profiling using headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME GCMS) over 16 weeks. Significant (p = 0.001) differences in the concentration of LO compounds and sensory perception were evident between sample types in the different storage conditions. The sensory acceptance scores for FFWMP and SMP remained stable throughout storage in all conditions, despite the increased perception of some LO products. The IMF sample was perceived negatively in each storage condition and at each time point. Overall increases in hexanal, heptanal, and pentanal correlated with “painty”, “oxidised”, “cooked”, and “caramelised” attributes in all samples. The concentration of some LO volatiles in the IMF was far in excess of those in FFWMP and SMP. High levels of LO volatiles in IMF were presumably due to the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the formulation.

Objective: To investigate the true incidence of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) in food and children diarrhea cases. Methods: A total of 110 samples of various dairy products such as raw milk, long life pasteurized milk, yoghurt and infant powdered milk formulas, raw rice, and feces were examined for the presence of B. cereus by selective plating on mannitol-egg-yolk-polymyxin agar. Confirmation of B. cereus was carried out by biochemical tests and PCR. Identification of non-B. cereus isolates was carried out by 16S rDNA sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done by disk diffusion method. Results: Overall 35 samples (31.8%, n = 110) yielded Bacillus-like growth. Of which 19 samples (54.28%) were positive for B. cereus. All isolates were positive for enterotoxin production. No psychrotolerant B. cereus strains were detected in all samples. All B. cereus isolates were resistant to penicillin G, but susceptible to vancomycin, erythromycin and clindamycin. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the importance of including B. cereus in disease control and prevention programs, as well as in routine clinical and food quality control laboratories in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Abstract Milk protein, in particular native whey protein, is of interest to dairy manufacturers as a measure of functional and nutritional quality. However, quantification of soluble whey protein (SP) is time consuming; giving rise to the need to develop rapid, accurate, and portable at-line process analytical technology. In this study, the performance of a fluorescence-based analyser(F) (Amaltheys II, Spectralys Innovations, France) was evaluated for quantification of SP F and whey protein nitrogen index (WPNI) F in skim milk, whey protein concentrate and infant formula powders. Rehydration of powders prior to analysis was a key factor for ensuring repeatability and reproducibility. A comparison of the analyser with reference methods for SP F and WPNI F resulted in coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.993 for both SP Kjeldahl method and WPNI GEA. The results show the fluorescence-based analyser to be rapid, compact, and accurate device, suited for providing reliable support to dairy ingredient and infant formula manufacturers. Industrial relevance The fluorescence based analysis investigated in this article is suitable for application in the dairy industry where it can be used as a rapid, at-line PAT tool for both liquid and powder samples. The technology has the potential to replace well-established methods for measurement of soluble protein. The main benefit to industry is the ability to respond more rapidly to variations in soluble protein without compromising on the accuracy associated with more time consuming methods. Highlights • Rapid and accurate at-line process analytical technology for dairy industry • Fluorescence-based analyser for replacement of standard analytical methods • Quantitative measurement of soluble whey protein and whey protein nitrogen index [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Chinese consumers mistrust domestic food supply chains for infant formula. • Chinese consumers will pay a premium for authenticity cues and European products. • Authenticity cues give assurance: especially when associated with 3rd party controls. Abstract A series of food safety incidents has led to low levels of trust in the safety of domestically produced Chinese infant milk formula. Concerned parents in China increasingly source ‘foreign-produced’ brands and use a range of authenticity cues as assurance of the safety and authenticity of infant formula products. However, the effectiveness of authenticity cues in providing assurance to Chinese consumers has not been evaluated. The aim of this study is to analyse the importance of various authenticity cues for infant milk product choices. Latent class models were used to analyse responses to an online choice experiment with 350 consumers of European infant formula in three Chinese cities: Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. The model included respondents’ preferences for different labels, authenticity cues and price along with perceptions, attitudes, and socio-demographic characteristics. We identified two consumer segments, with one preferring lower priced infant formula and the second choosing higher priced products. All authenticity cues, including price, appear to serve as indicators of food quality and safety, and all were found to be highly important information sources for the respondents when making purchase decisions. In general, Chinese consumers are prepared to pay a premium for authenticity assurance. Chinese policy makers and the infant formula industry should continue to improve quality control systems to increase consumers’ trust in food value chains. These control systems should comprise the whole food supply chain, from production to marketing, and should focus on building trust and communicating credibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modification of proteins in infant milk formula (IF) is of major concern to the dairy industry and consumers. Thermal treatment is required for microbiological safety, but heat, light, metal-ions and other factors may induce oxidative damage, and be a health risk. In this study protein modifications in IFs were quantified. IFs contained both reducible (disulphide) and non-reducible (di-tyrosine, lanthionine, lysinoalanine) protein cross-links. Dehydroalanine and the cross-linked species lanthionine and lysinoalanine were detected. Protein carbonyls were detected predominantly on high molecular mass materials. Oxidation products of phenylalanine (m-tyrosine), tryptophan (N-formylkynurenine, kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine), tyrosine (di-tyrosine) and methionine (methionine sulphoxide) were detected, consistent with amino acid modification. Higher levels of most of the markers of protein modification were present in the hydrolysed protein brand, when compared to the conventional IF samples, indicative of increased damage during additional processing. Significant levels of racemised (D-) amino acids were present. These data indicate that amino acids in proteins in IFs are modified to a significant extent during manufacture, with hydrolysed IF being particularly prone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Front-face fluorescence spectroscopy (FFFS) was evaluated as a quality assurance process analytical technology (PAT) tool for infant milk formula (IMF) manufacture. Batches of first-stage IMF (60:40 whey protein:casein ratio) powder were produced with protein:fat:lactose ratios of 1.3:3.6:7.3, differing only in heat treatment applied prior to spray drying (72, 95, or 115 °C for 15 s). Each IMF powder was stored at 15 ± 2 °C and 37 ± 2 °C and analyzed at months 0, 3, 6, and 12. Partial least squares (PLS) models were developed for IMF in both powder and liquid states using FFFS spectra to predict pre-drying heat treatment temperature, soluble protein content, and storage time. Models developed using tryptophan emission spectra for IMF powder predicted storage time, pre-drying heat treatment temperature, and soluble protein content with RMSECV values of 0.3 months, 8.3 °C, and 1.01 g protein/100 g powder, respectively. IMF powders were rehydrated to 13% total solids and analyzed using the vitamin A emission spectra. Models developed for rehydrated IMF predicted storage time and pre-drying heat treatment temperature with RMSECV values of 1.5 months and 6.7 °C, respectively. Surface free fats were predicted with an RMSECV range of 0.12-0.20% (w/w of powder) in rehydrated IMF. PLS discriminant analysis models developed for both powder and liquid IMF samples successfully discriminated for storage temperature. This preliminary study demonstrates the strong potential of FFFS as a PAT tool for IMF quality assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although iron deficiency (ID) is considered the most frequent micronutrient deficiency in industrialized countries and is associated with impaired neurodevelopment when occurring in early years, accurate recent estimations of its prevalence are lacking. Our objective was to estimate ID prevalence and associated sociodemographic markers in young children in France. The Saturn-Inf national cross-sectional hospital-based survey recruited 3,831 French children <6 years old between 2008 and 2009 to assess lead poisoning prevalence and to establish a biobank. This secondary analysis measured serum ferritinemia (SF) in sera kept frozen at −80 °C for children with sufficient serum aliquots and C-reactive protein <10 mg/L. For the 657 participating children (17% of the Saturn-Inf study), the median age was 3.9 years (interquartile range: 2.2-5.1); 52% were boys. The median SF was 44 μg/L (interquartile range: 28-71). ID prevalence was 2.8% (95% confidence interval [1.7, 4.7]) and 3.2% (95% confidence interval [2.0, 5.1]) with an SF threshold of 10 and 12 μg/L, respectively. Low SF was significantly associated ( p < .05) with mother being a migrant (32 vs. 45 μg/L for a mother born in France) or unemployed (37 vs. 50 μg/L for a mother employed). In this first national cross-sectional hospital-based study in France, ID prevalence was much lower than that in other French and European studies performed in underprivileged populations but close to the lowest values observed in other population-based studies in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study compares enzymatic treatments to release folic acid (FA) and endogenous 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) from infant milk formulae with enzyme-free heat extraction. The limits of detection and quantitation of FA were 1.4 ng/mL and 3.1 ng/mL, respectively; 7.5 ng/mL and 16.2 ng/mL for 5-MTHF. Absolute mean recoveries were 85% (FA) and 95% (5-MTHF). The RSD of the within-run variability was 6% and the inter-day variability was 8%. Averaged measurements of FA and 5-MTHF in SRM-1849a were within the certified value range. Analysed folate levels in three brands were greater than label values, because of inherently high 5-MTHF occurring in samples. The results indicate that enzyme-free heat treatment prior to UPLC–MS/MS analysis gives better sensitivity and reduces chromatographic interferences for the determination of FA and 5-MTHF in milk formulae than enzymatic treatments. Enzyme-free heat treatment is more compatible with UPLC–MS/MS than folate extraction techniques involving the addition of enzymes to milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to screen the in vitro antimicrobial activity of 10 plant essential oils (EOs) against 4 Cronobacter sakazakii strains, and use these oils or their combination to control C. sakazakii cocktail at low (3 log10 CFU/ml) and high (6 log10 CFU/ml) contamination levels in reconstituted infant milk formula (RIMF). Cinnamon and fir oils were the most inhibitory to C. sakazakii strains with inhibition zone of 32 to 40 mm at 20 µl/disc (the minimum inhibitory concentrations were 0.16 and 0.625 µl/ml, respectively). The addition of each of cinnamon or fir oil at 1% (v/v) reduced the C. sakazakii numbers in RIMF by 0.7-0.8 log10 CFU/ml when inoculated with high contamination level and by 2.5-3.1 log10 CFU/ml when inoculated with low contamination level. However, the combination of cinnamon and fir oils reduced C. sakazakii numbers at both inoculum levels to undetectable levels after 3 h of incubation at 37°C. The results of the current study indicated that a combination of cinnamon and fir oils has a potent antimicrobial activity which may potentially be used to control C. sakazakii in RIMF.

Protein type and/or heat treatment pre- or post-homogenisation can affect the physical stability of infant formulations during manufacture. Previous research has described the use of α-lactalbumin addition in infant formulae, but has not demonstrated the effect of heating pre- or post-emulsion formulation during processing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of both of these parameters. Three batches of model 1st-stage infant formula containing differing whey protein ratios (60:40 whey: casein with α-lactalbumin content 12, 30 or 48% of total protein) were prepared. Each batch was split; one half receiving heat treatment pre-homogenisation and the second half homogenised and then heat treated. Emulsion stability was determined by size exclusion chromatography, SDS-PAGE, particle size and viscosity measurements. There was a significant ( P < 0.05) reduction in the formation of large soluble aggregates upon increasing α-lac concentration in emulsions heat treated either before or after homogenisation. Heat treatment of formulations post-homogenisation resulted in a higher ( P < 0.05) D.v09 within the particle size distribution; increasing α-lactalbumin concentration to 30 or 48% significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced the D.v09 within the particle size distribution in these emulsions. The viscosity of concentrates (55 % total solids) containing the 12% α-lactalbumin, heat treated post-homogenisation, was significantly greater ( P < 0.05) than the equivalent emulsion heat treated pre-homogenisation; increasing the α-lactalbumin concentration to 30 or 48% significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced viscosity. When the α-lactalbumin content was increased to 48% as a percentage of the total protein, heating before or after emulsion formation had no effect on concentrate viscosity. The findings demonstrate the importance of thermal denaturation/aggregation of whey proteins (and in particular, the ratio of α-lactalbumin to β-lactoglobulin) prior to homogenisation of infant formula emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cronobacter sakazakii is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that is associated with rare but life-threatening cases of severe diseases: meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis in premature and full-term infants. However, the pathogenesis mechanism of this pathogen remains largely unknown. To determine its pathogenesis at the genomic level, the genome of C. sakazakii ATCC 29544T was completely sequenced and analyzed. Results: The genomic DNA, containing a circular chromosome and three plasmids, is composed of 4,511,265 bp with a GC content of 56.71%, containing 4380 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), 22 rRNA genes, and 83 tRNA genes. The plasmids, designated pCSK29544_p1, pCSK29544_p2, and pCSK29544_p3, were 93,905-bp, 4938-bp, and 53,457- bp with GC contents of 57.02, 54.88, and 50.07%, respectively. They were also predicted to have 72, 6, and 57 ORFs without RNA genes. Conclusions: The strain ATCC 29544T genome has ompA and ibeB-homologous cusC genes, probably associated with the invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). In addition, gene clusters for siderophore production (iucABCD/iutA) and the related transport system (eitCBAD) were detected in pCSK29544_p1 plasmid, indicating better iron uptake ability for survival. Furthermore, to survive under extremely dry condition like milk powder, this genome has gene clusters for biosynthesis of capsular proteins (CSK29544_00281-00284) and cellulose (CSK29544_01124-01127) for biofilm formation and a gene cluster for utilization of sialic acid in the milk (nanKTAR). The genome information of C. sakazakii ATCC 29544T would provide further understanding of its pathogenesis at the molecular level for the regulation of pathogenicity and the development of a rapid detection method using biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess sodium intake can lead to hypertension, the primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the sodium and potassium contents of foodstuff used by infants and children of Pakistan.We analyzed the sodium and potassium contents of infant milk formula (6 months), baby food (cereals), biscuits, fruit juices, potato chips (crisps), cheese puffs, roasted cereals (salty), ice cream cones (kulfi) all of which are the processed food extensively used by the children. The amount of sodium and potassium contents in drinking water of few cities of Pakistan were also considered to assess the additional sodium/potassium in the preparation of milk using infant milk formula.Na to K ratio (Na:K) was determined 0.3-1.23, 0.3-1.16, 0.33-0.82, 0.54-2.68, 0.51-0.85, 2.86 and 1.02 for infant milk formula (6 months), baby food (cereals), biscuits, fruit juices, potato chips (crisps, cheese puffs, roasted cereals), ice cream cones (kulfi), respectively.The higher sodium content is present than most of the quoted values; whereas lower potassium is present than the recommended values. The higher Na:K ratio indicates the severity of the situation where it is commonly stated that "higher an individual's salt intake, the higher an individual's blood pressure". Present study indicates that nearly all Pakistani children consume substantially more salt than they need which will affect health status in later life.

Background and Objective: The viability of the periodontal ligament (PDL) cells on the root surface of the avulsed tooth determines the prognosis of the replanted tooth, which in turn is determined by a suitable transport medium in which the tooth was stored. The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Ringer's lactate (RL) as a storage medium for an avulsed tooth in maintaining the PDL cell viability with dextrose normal saline (DNS), oral rehydration salt (ORS), egg white (EW), and infant milk formula (IMF)., Materials and Methods: A total of 85 freshly extracted human teeth were divided into five experimental groups and two control groups. The positive and negative controls corresponded to 0-minute and 8-hour dry time, respectively. The experimental teeth were stored dry for 30 minutes and then immersed in one of five experimental media (RL, DNS, ORS, EW, and IMF) for 45 minutes. The teeth were then treated with collagenase type III and trypsin for 10 minutes. The number of viable PDL cells was counted with a hemocytometer and analyzed., Results: Statistical analysis showed that IMF, RL, and EW had no statistically significant differences among them in maintaining the viability of the PDL cells but were significantly better than DNS. No statistically significant difference between RL, EW, and ORS in the number of viable PDL cells., Conclusion: Infant milk formula (IMF), RL, and EW showed similar results within the parameters of the study; they can be used as alternative storage media for avulsed teeth. DNS showed poor results, and ORS could serve as short-term storage media if the other solutions are not readily available., Clinical Significance: The search for an appropriate storage media with favorable pH and osmolality along with easy availability is the basic thought behind this study., How to Cite This Article: Kumar P, Kotumachagi SS, Fabi AJ, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Maintenance of Cell Viability of an Experimental Transport Media "Ringer's Lactate" with Dextrose Normal Saline ORS Egg White and Infant Milk Formula for Transportation of an Avulsed Tooth. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(3):453-458., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).)

Model infant milk formula systems (5.5% protein) were formulated to contain α-lactalbumin:β-lactoglobulin ratios of 0.1, 0.5, 1.3, 2.1 or 4.6 and assessed for heat stability and heat-induced changes. ‘Humanising’ the model formulas by increasing α-lactalbumin:β-lactoglobulin enhanced heat stability at 140 °C in the pH range 6.6–6.9. The model formulas were analysed after lab-scale high-temperature short-time heating at pH 6.8. Gel electrophoresis indicated that increased heat stability in high α-lactalbumin:β-lactoglobulin samples was due to decreased covalent interactions between proteins. In low α-lactalbumin:β-lactoglobulin formulas, protein–protein interactions caused marked increases in protein particle size and viscosity of the heated systems; conversely, covalent interactions between proteins were minimal in high α-lactalbumin:β-lactoglobulin formulas. Reduced protein–protein interactions with increasing α-lactalbumin:β-lactoglobulin has important implications for subsequent processing; for example, lower viscosity post-heating may affect bulk density in spray-dried products or physical stability in ready-to-feed products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human milk (HM) provides all nutrients to support an optimal growth and development of the neonate. The composition and structure of HM lipids, the most important energy provider, have an impact on the digestion, uptake and metabolism of lipids. In HM, the lipids are present in the form of dispersed fat globules: large fat droplets enveloped by a phospholipid membrane. Currently, infant milk formula (Control IMF) contains small fat droplets primarily coated by proteins. Recently, a novel IMF concept (Concept IMF) was developed with a different lipid architecture, Nuturis ® , comprising large fat droplets with a phospholipid coating. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), with appropriate fluorescent probes, and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine and compare the interfacial composition and structure of HM fat globules, Concept IMF fat droplets and Control IMF fat droplets. The presence of a trilayer-structured HM fat globule membrane, composed of phospholipids, proteins, glycoproteins and cholesterol, was confirmed; in addition exosome-like vesicles are observed within cytoplasmic crescents. The Control IMF fat droplets had a thick protein-only interface. The Concept IMF fat droplets showed a very thin interface composed of a mixture of phospholipids, proteins and cholesterol. Furthermore, the Concept IMF contained fragments of milk fat globule membrane, which has been suggested to have potential biological functions in infants. By mimicking more closely the structure and composition of HM fat globules, this novel IMF concept with Nuturis ® may have metabolic and digestive properties that are more similar to HM compared to Control IMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the true incidence of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) in food and children diarrhea cases. Methods: A total of 110 samples of various dairy products such as raw milk, long life pasteurized milk, yoghurt and infant powdered milk formulas, raw rice, and feces were examined for the presence of B. cereus by selective plating on mannitol-egg-yolk-polymyxin agar. Confirmation of B. cereus was carried out by biochemical tests and PCR. Identification of non-B. cereus isolates was carried out by 16S rDNA sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done by disk diffusion method. Results: Overall 35 samples (31.8%, n = 110) yielded Bacillus-like growth. Of which 19 samples (54.28%) were positive for B. cereus. All isolates were positive for enterotoxin production. No psychrotolerant B. cereus strains were detected in all samples. All B. cereus isolates were resistant to penicillin G, but susceptible to vancomycin, erythromycin and clindamycin. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the importance of including B. cereus in disease control and prevention programs, as well as in routine clinical and food quality control laboratories in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infant milk formulas are not sterile products, and pathogenic bacteria can survive and multiply in these products. This study was performed, initially, to detect the presence of Salmonella spp. in reconstituted infant milk formula and on utensils previously sanitized used in their preparation or distribution in a nursery of a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro. None of the samples tested carried Salmonella spp. However, further identification of colonies growing on the selective media revealed the presence of several other gram-negative bacteria. Seventeen isolates were identified as belonging to Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex. Fourteen isolates presented a multidrug-resistance profile, by disc diffusion assays, and one of them--JE4--was also resistant to imipenem. The detection of Acinetobacter isolates in this work demonstrates inadequate hygiene practices in the preparation or distribution of infant milk formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]