Online article collection explores detection and control of Cronobacter sakazakii that contributed to supply disruption
Philadelphia, May 31, 2022 – The US shortage of both liquid and powdered infant formula (PIF) that has created struggles for parents seeking supplies highlights the critical need for improved detection methods aimed at preventing formula shortages. In response, the Journal of Dairy Science (JDS) has created a collection of articles aimed at improved detection methods to counter bacteria in PIF.
Multiple factors have played a role in the current situation, but according to Michael J. Miller, PhD, professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, “The shortage is in part related to Cronobacter sakazakii. One commercial facility has been linked to an outbreak of C. sakazakii in PIF, which shut the facility down. Once one facility was offline, there wasn’t enough PIF capacity in the US industry to compensate. The lack of resiliency in food systems is a problem when something catastrophic happens, such as a pandemic, outbreak, massive hurricane, or war.”
Several relevant articles have been published in JDS. Most are centered on improved detection methods, important to the current situation. These articles focus on methods to quickly and accurately measure C. sakazakii in PIF samples and explore ways to counter C. sakazakii through the use of silver nanoparticles, tea polyphenols, radio frequency dielectric heating, and carbon dioxide. These methods show promise in reducing or destroying C. sakazakii, which may ultimately offer a solution to responding to and preventing the spread of outbreaks in infant formula and getting formula back on store shelves.
Caption: Article collection explores detection and control of Cronobacter sakazakii that contributed to supply disruption (Credit: iStock.com/AlasdairJames).
This special collection of JDS articles on infant formula is available online at https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/infant-formula. The Journal of Dairy Science is committed to publishing scientific research that helps inform industry and maintains special collections on topics that create a scientific dialogue on dairy topics. For more information, please visit the journal website, http://www.journalofdairyscience.org.
Notes for editors
The article collection is openly available at https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/infant-formula. All articles were published in the Journal of Dairy Science.
The Journal of Dairy Science is published by Fass Inc and Elsevier.
Journalists wishing to interview should contact the collection curator, Michael J. Miller, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, at mille216@illinois.edu.
About the Journal of Dairy Science
The Journal of Dairy Science® (JDS), an official journal of the American Dairy Science Association®, is the leading general dairy research journal in the world, and as of January 2022, it is an open access journal. JDS readers represent education, industry, and government agencies in more than 70 countries, with interests in biochemistry, breeding, economics, engineering, environment, food science, genetics, microbiology, nutrition, pathology, physiology, processing, public health, quality assurance, and sanitation. www.journalofdairyscience.org
About the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)
The ADSA is an international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the world's population. It provides leadership in scientific and technical support to sustain and grow the global dairy industry through generation, dissemination, and exchange of information and services. Together, ADSA members have discovered new methods and technologies that have revolutionized the dairy industry. www.adsa.org