Microorganisms and Foods

Essay # 45476

A discussion on how microorganisms can be of significance to foods. Topics covered include food spoilage, food poisoning and food related infection.

973 words () | 3 sources | MLA | 2002 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how microorganisms are extremely important aspects of our food supply: They can cause spoilage, they can ferment our foods and they can cause us illness through foods. It looks at how they can be found in all types of foods fresh food, prepared food and even preserved food. It covers such issues as food spoilage and inhibition of the growth of pathogens, microbial ability to cause disease in humans (using Staphylococcus aureus as a particular example) and commercial uses of microbes in food (fermentation etc).

From the Paper:

"Food poisoning results from ingestion of food that contains previously formed microbial toxins. The microorganisms that created the toxins are not usually alive when the contaminated food is eaten. The illness is caused by the action of the toxins. One of the most common forms of food poisoning is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It is most often found in foods such as poultry, meat, egg and meat salads and creamy salad dressings. It results from the foods not being kept refrigerated after they have been prepared, as S. aureus can grow very rapidly at room temperature. Even if the food is heated again before ingestion, the toxin may not be destroyed as it is reasonably heat stable."