Microbial safety of lipid-based ready-to-use foods for management of moderate acute malnutrition and severe acute malnutrition: first report

Overview

Globally, approximately 180 million children suffer from malnutrition, of which an estimated 40 million annually develop severe, acute malnutrition. Efforts to mitigate severe acute malnutrition and prevent moderate acute malnutrition from developing further need to be multifaceted, given the range of contributors to malnutrition. Providing foods with optional nutrients and free from pathogens and toxins to the extent feasible is an important part of this. The development of lipid-based ready–to-use foods for the management of severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition, which provide necessary energy, fatty acids, protein, and micronutrients tailored to the needs and tastes of the children, has become an important tool in community-based management of acute malnutrition, and has facilitated expanded coverage of programmes dealing with malnutrition. However, the detection of Cronobacter spp in these products in 2012 highlighted the importance of also giving more attention to the safety of these products for the intended population of young children.

This is the first report to look into the microbiological safety of these products. It highlights the organisms of concern and the actions that need to be taken by producers and purchasers of these products in order to minimise the food safety risk for the intended consumer.