Abstract
The objective of this paper was discuss the main biological hazards found in infant formulas from literature reports, especially from outbreak records. This study has an exploratory nature through a bibliographical review where scientific search sites were used as data sources. Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella enterica are among the main microorganisms that cause diseases associated with infant formulas ingestion; however, Clostridium botulinum, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus can also be responsible for infant formulas contaminations. Since infants have the immune and metabolic systems still in development, they represent a more vulnerable group to contaminants, making it essential to offer safe foods from processing in industry to administration in homes and hospital units.
Keywords: Infant formulas; Food contamination; Outbreaks; Pathogen; Salmonella; Cronobacter sakazakii