Twenty-three Bacillus cereus strains isolated from powdered and pasteurized milk carrying the
hblACD genes were assessed to evaluate their ability to produce the hemolysin BL enterotoxin
(HBL) when incubated at 30ºC and 10ºC. All strains showed enterotoxigenic potential at 30ºC
and nine strains (39%) produced the toxin at 10ºC. The results indicated that the expression
of the hblACD genes and the subsequent production of the enterotoxin HBL were directly
influenced by the incubation temperature. The contamination of dairy products by B. cereus
with genetic potential to produce enterotoxins represents an important concern for the industry.