Rapid detection of genus Cronobacter in powdered infant formula milk

Rapid and specific detection of spp. in powdered infant formula milk (IFM) is of great importance for health and safety reasons. In the present study, two rapid and specific methods, the immunochromatographic strip (ICT) and the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), were tested for the detection of spp. in IFM. IFM samples spiked by spp. were correctly detected as positive by both methods. These results were verified by the classical cultivation microbiological method (ISO/TS 22964:2006). All three methods were used for the analyses of 13 IMF samples from a local market with identical results. Only one IFM sample was found to be positive. Both tested methods considerably reduced the total detection time, to 24 h (ICT) and 46 h (MALDI-TOF MS), whereas the reference ISO/TS 22964:2006 method needs 140 h.