Garlic Effective in Killing Contaminants in Baby Formula: Study

A latest study claims that garlic compounds are effective in killing contaminants present in baby formula.

Universally known as the stinking rose, Garlic, a simple ingredient packed with additional health benefits is a staple ingredient in many eastern curries. Though many dread the garlic breath, its antiviral and antibacterial properties aren't doubted.

According to the researchers at the University of Columbia, two compounds namely diallyl sulphide and ajoene derived from garlic help in killing contaminants present in the baby formula. This is the first study to discover the two compounds that significantly lower the contamination of the risk in the Cronobacter sakazakii in the production of dry infant formula powder.

Powdered infant formula products are not sterile. Due to this, the risk of the formula being colonized with bacterial organisms is high. The food borne pathogen C. sakazakii is present dry infant formula powder as well as other fortified foods. The infection of this pathogen is rare but fatal. The infection is known to poison the baby's bloodstream and trigger life threatening cases like meningitis.

The identification of the two compounds diallyl sulphide and ajoene, makes the baby formula safer for the infants' consumption.

"A trace dose of these two compounds is extremely effective in killing C. sakazakii in the food manufacturing process," says Xiaonan Lu, corresponding author and assistant professor of food safety engineering in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. "They have the potential to eliminate the pathogen before it ever reaches the consumer."

Through this finding, the researchers state that the two derived compounds can be used to prevent C. sakazakii contamination on the food contact surfaces right from processing, packaging and delivery.

"Pipes used in the manufacturing of milk products are typically cleaned with chemicals like chlorine, but these garlic compounds are a natural alternative," says Lu. "We believe these compounds are more beneficial in protecting babies against this pathogen."

The findings have been published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.