Scientists in China published in J. Food Protection entitled “Development of a test for the real-time fluorescence RNA targeted isothermal amplification to identify Cronobacter species in powdered infant formula quickly.” The current work developed a rapid and sensitive RNA targeting amplification and detection system for Cronobacter spp., including enrichment, RNA isolation, and detection by real-time RNA isothermal amplification, capable of detecting viable Cronobacter spp. in powdered infant formula (PIF) and other food products. The optimized Simultaneous Amplification and Testing (SAT) assay targeting 16s/23s rRNA was used to demonstrate the specificity sensitivity of the detection assay. Seven Cronobacter sakazakii strains and 24 control strains were examined in comparison with real-time PCR (SN/T 1632.3) and ISO 22964. The SAT assay showed sensitivity with a detection limit of 2 log10 CFU/ml without pre-enrichment, 2 log CFU/10ml with 4 hours enrichment, and 2 log CFU/1000ml with 7 hours pre-enrichment (The sensitivity of real-time PCR is 3 log CFU/ml without pre-enrichment, log CFU/ml with 4 hours pre-enrichment and 2 log CFU/10ml with 8 hours pre-enrichment). The newly developed assay can provide results in 4 hours, including enrichment, which has been significantly shortened compared to the real-time PCR method with overnight enrichment. SAT assay did not give false positive results when detecting dead C. sakazakii (7-2 log CFU/ml). In contrast, the real-time PCR assay exhibited a detection limit equivalent to that for detecting viable bacteria. The developed SAT assay, combined with enrichment, offers a rapid, sensitive, and straightforward approach, demonstrating great potential for detecting Cronobacter species in baby formula and other food products. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X25001061?dgcid=raven_sd_aip_email