Microbiological quality and safety of infant cereal flours: a comparative study of producers and distributors in Togo

The microbiological quality of infant cereals is a major public health concern because infants are particularly vulnerable to foodborne infections. This study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of infant cereals produced and marketed in Togo by comparing samples collected from producers and distributors. A total of 20 samples were analyzed, including 10 from each group. Microbiological analyses focused on total mesophilic aerobic flora (TMAF), total coliforms, Escherichia coli, yeasts and molds, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus, while the presence of Salmonella spp. and Cronobacter spp. was also investigated.Total mesophilic aerobic flora showed the highest non-compliance rates, reaching 30% in producer samples and 40% in distributor samples. For total coliforms and yeasts and molds, non-compliance rates were 20% among producer samples and 30% among distributor samples. Similarly, non-compliance rates for E. coli and B. cereus were 10% and 20% in producer and distributor samples, respectively. Salmonella spp. was detected in one sample from each group, whereas Cronobacter spp. was detected in one distributor sample.Overall, distributor samples showed higher descriptive non-compliance rates for several microbiological parameters than producer samples. However, these differences do not establish a causal relationship between distribution practices and microbiological contamination. The findings nevertheless point to potential microbiological safety concerns and highlight the need to strengthen hygiene practices, quality control, and appropriate storage conditions throughout the production and distribution chain. Further studies involving larger and more representative sample sizes are needed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the microbiological safety of infant cereals in Togo.