Dr. Robert M. Califf, M.D., Commissioner of the FDA, provided a short document sharing some information on Cronobacter. The organism is found naturally in the environment. Cronobacter is harmless for most people. It can cause life threatening infections in infants, particularly those younger than two months old, premature, immunocompromised, or low birth weight. Cronobacter contamination occurs in the food facility manufacturing environment and the home. Therefore, safe preparation and storage of powdered infant formula to avoid contamination at home and in the manufacturing environment. FDA claims that it is difficult to determine whether the source of the infection is due to an infant formula product or contamination by some other means in the home. Their infections are rare, perhaps due to a lack of reporting requirements. There is no robust library of genetic data for Cronobacter that would be helpful to link clinical samples to their source definitively. Without this genomic data, it will remain difficult to determine the source of Cronobacter infections and to prevent future ones. @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/demystifying-cronobacter-and-actions-fda-taking-keep-food-supply-safe?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
