Food Safety Risks and Contributing Factors of Cronobacter spp

Cronobacter species are a group of Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens, which cause meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates and infants, with neurological sequelae in severe cases. Interest in Cronobacter has increased significantly in recent years due to its high virulence in children. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the prevalence of Cronobacter species in several important food types. We discuss the response mechanisms enabling persistence in adverse growth conditions, as well as its pathogenicity. We emphasize the food safety concerns caused by Cronobacter and subsequent control methods, and clinical treatments.