The aim of the study was to determine the total count of microorganisms, as well as the total count of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family and the presence of Enterobacter sakazakii in foodstuffs for infants and young children available in Poland. Sixty samples of foodstuffs for infants and young children available in the Warsaw market were examined. The foodstuffs were divided into three groups depending on the age of their intended consumers. Experimental samples were prepared in conformity with PN-EN ISO 6887:2000. Total counts of microorganisms in all the samples were made according to PN-93/A-86034/04 and the samples were examined for the presence of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family according to PN-ISO 21528-2:2005. The presence of Enterobacter sakazakii was established in thirty selected samples according to PKN-ISO/TS 22964. The total count of bacteria in foodstuffs intended for infants aged 0 to 12 months did not exceed 10³ cfu/g. In foodstuffs intended for children aged 9 to 12 months up to 3 years the highest bacterial count amounted to 10⁵ cfu/g of the sample. Bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family were detected only in four samples, all of which were foodstuffs intended for children aged more than 9 months. None of the samples examined were found positive for E. sakazakii in 1 g. However, some strains of this genus do not produce yellow pigment in the conditions specified by PKN-ISO/TS 22964. Therefore, in order to increase the reliability of the results obtained, microbiological examinations should be supplemented with genetic analyses. The total bacterial counts in foodstuffs for young children aged more than 9 months were higher, which suggests that their microbiological quality was slightly inferior to that of foodstuffs for infants. The presence of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family in a low percentage of the experimental samples (6.7%) of foodstuffs for young children may indicate reinfection in the course of their production.
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