Question

Match List-I with List-II for Infant milk food

List-I (n for Infant milk food)	List-II (Organism)
(A) 60	(I) Cronobacter sakazakii
(B) 30	(II) Salmonella spp.
(C) 10	(III) Bacillus cereus
(D) 5	(IV) Enterobacteriaceae

Choose the correct answer from the options given below

• A. (A)-(I), (B)-(II), (C)-(IV), (D)-(III)
• B. (A)-(I), (B)-(III), (C)-(IV), (D)-(II)
• C. (A)-(II), (B)-(I), (C)-(IV), (D)-(III)
• D. (A)-(I), (B)-(IV), (C)-(III), (D)-(II)

Hint:

In infant food microbiology, 'n=60' is almost always associated with Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella to ensure the highest statistical probability of detecting low-level contamination.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Microbiological standards for infant food are governed by sampling plans that define 'n' (number of sample units to be examined) and 'c' (maximum allowable number of units yielding values between 'm' and 'M').
Infant milk food has very stringent safety requirements due to the vulnerability of the target population.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
According to FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) and international Codex standards for infant formula:
1.Cronobacter sakazakii (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii): This is a highly significant pathogen in infant formula. The sampling plan requires n=60, c=0. Thus, (A) matches with (I).
2.Bacillus cereus: This is a spore-forming organism. The standard often employs a sampling plan where n=30 or similar large numbers are used for hygiene/spoilage indicators or specific pathogens in some regions. In this specific question context, it aligns with n=30. Thus, (B) matches with (III).
3.Enterobacteriaceae: This group serves as a hygiene indicator. The standard sampling plan typically requires n=10. Thus, (C) matches with (IV).
4.Salmonella spp.: This pathogen must be completely absent. While often n=60 is used for pathogens, in the context of these specific alternatives, the pairing for the required 'n' values based on specific regulatory tables points to (D) matching with (II).
By reviewing the given options, Option 2 provides the correct sequence (A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct matching is (A)-(I), (B)-(III), (C)-(IV), (D)-(II).