Microbiological quality of dry-milk mixes and milk substitute infant formulas.

The microbiological quality of dry-milk mixes and milk substitute infant formulas at the retail level was determined by a national survey of 1,574 analytical units. The geometric mean values for aerobic plate counts of milk-containing and milk substitute infant formulas were 25 and 52/g, respectively. The mean value for Staphylococcus aureus and for coliform organisms was less than 3/g. Each unit had an Escherichia coli most-probable-number value of less than 3/g.