LAUSR

The safety of foods (human milk-HM; infant formula-IF; milk-based products-MBPs) aimed for children nutrition (from birth to 5 years old) through filamentous fungi & yeasts were investigated ( n = 158). Their analysis followed the ISO 6611: 2004 recommended for total load (isolation & enumeration) in milk and dairy products. The occurrence of filamentous fungi & yeasts was observed in 29, 51 and 60% of the HM ( n = 98), IF ( n = 45) and MBP ( n = 15) samples surveyed. Fungi isolated present counts above 10 2 CFU/g and yeasts higher (> 10 4 CFU/g). Aspergillus , Penicillium and Thichoderma genera were identified in all the three sample types at percentages of 100/13/9%, 78/11/22% and 32/39/25% for IF, MBP and HM samples, respectively, being Aspergillus the most isolated, especially in the IF samples. Despite deterioration that can cause, the presence of filamentous fungi in HM and other infant foods, can enable mycotoxins production as long as toxigenic species are present which are hazardous for babies.