ABSTRACT
Weaning food is a manufactured food designed and marketed
for feeding babies and infants less than 12 months of age. It is usually
prepared for bottle-feeding or cup-feeding from powder (mixed with water) or
liquid (with or without additional water). The nutritional benefits of
complementary foods or weaning foods and the sensitivity period in which they
are fed on by infants, it is very important to investigate the microbiological
safety of the weanimix as well as determination of antibiotic resistance of pathogens
that may be isolated against commonly used antibiotics for treatment of
infections.
An aggregate of 90 samples were gathered and were allocated
unique codes and instantly taken to the laboratory for isolation of Pathogens.
From the study, weanimix were found to be highly contaminated with Salmonella,
S. aureus and E. coli. And in terms of Antimicrobial activities;
some isolates from the weanimix were susceptible to some antibiotics while
other isolates were resistant.
It is recommended that Regulatory agencies(FDA, Ghana Health
Services, Local District Assemblies) should take up the challenge in helping
local food manufactures to produce safe foods especially weanimix.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0. GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background
As per Agostoni et al. (2008), complementary feeding with
infant formula begins when breast milk is no longer sufficient to meet the
nutritional requirements of infants.
World Health Organization (WHO,2009) said "target go for
corresponding encouraging is for the most part taken to be 6 to 23 months of
age". Weaning food is a manufactured food designed and marketed for
feeding babies and infants less than 12 months of age. It is usually prepared
for bottle-feeding or cup-feeding from powder (mixed with water) or liquid (with
or without additional water).
In 2003, Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding,
distributed by the WHO and UNICEF rehashed that "prepared nourishment
items for babies and youthful kids should, when sold or generally dispersed,
meet relevant guidelines prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The
use of infant formula in less economically developed countries is linked to
poorer health outcomes because of the prevalence of unsanitary preparation
conditions, including lack of clean water and lack of sanitizing equipment.
In African nations, selective breastfeeding is typically
sufficient up to three to four months of age, however after this period it ends
up being dynamically deficient to help the nutritious requests of the
developing new-born child. Thus, in a weaning procedure there is always the
need to introduce soft, easily swallowed foods to supplement the infant‘s
feeding early in life.
According to Pickett-Bernard (2006), new-born child recipe as
indicated by U.S. Government Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA, 2006) defines
infant formula as "a food which purports to be or is represented for
special dietary use solely as a food for infants by reason of its simulation of
human milk or its suitability as a complete or partial substitute for human
milk". In Ghana infant formula like weanimix is the product used in
supplementing semi solid food in addition to breast milk during weaning. Public
Policy on exclusive breast feeding in Ghana is up to six months before infants
diet could be supplemented with infant formula which is usually about the time
their first teeth appear. Weaning age is a critical period of childcare. Until
an infant is introduced to the family food, breast milk needs to be
supplemented when infants reach six (6) months. With the introduction of
weaning foods which in many countries are prepared under unhygienic conditions,
infants who until then have only consumed breast milk may be exposed to
infective doses of foodborne pathogens according to Motaijemi et al. (1993).
1.2. Statement of Problem
Weanmix is a blend of grains; usually roasted Maize, Soya
Beans, Millet, Sorghum, Groundnuts. These grains are treated with
agro-chemicals and are likely to cause microbiological resistance in the
pathogens that may be present on the grains. Its high protein content makes it
an ideal product for weaning infants and also for microbial growth once there
is contamination of the product. These products are traditionally prepared by
individuals based on the availability of particular grain usually in different
combinations and packaged for sale without labelling. Hence improper handling
of the foods would eventually result in microbial contamination which may
likely result in food borne illnesses of the infants being weaned with these
food products.
Therefore, given the nutritional benefits of weanimix and
sensitivity period in which the infants are fed, it is very important to
investigate the microbiological safety of the weanimix as well as determination
of antibiotic resistance of pathogens that may be isolated against commonly
used antibiotics for treatment of child infections. This will inform decisions
regarding the regulation of production of the locally manufactured infant
formula in order to safeguard infants‘ health safety.
1.3. Research Questions
The investigation was constituted on the accompanying
questions:
Does the infant formula - weanimix sold in the various
hospitals for infants under 1 year conform to food safety regulations?
Are these pathogens antimicrobial resistant or have the
pathogens developed antibacterial resistance?
1.4. Main Goal
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the
microbiological safety of weanimix and its antimicrobial resistance.
1.5. Justification of Project
This study is relevant because the immune system of infants
is not fully developed to recover from any infection as a result of
microbiological contamination from the weanmix by a resistant strain pathogen.
bacteria which could lead to serious health effects.
The study into the microbiological safety of locally produced
infant formula-weanimix and its antimicrobial resistance, will inform decisions
regarding the production and regulation of these locally manufactured infant
formulas. Moreover, this will help to promote production of infant formula
according to food safety regulations and help to safeguard infants‘ health
safety. Also, the study will add up to the store of knowledge in academia
regarding the microbiological safety of locally produced infant formulas and
its antimicrobial resistance.
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===================================================================Item Type: Ghanaian Topic | Size: 44 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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