Bacteria Multiplying in Food

Source : Brett Jordan

Bacteria are the tiny organisms that quickly multiply on food, they can be either good or bad. Although people think of bacteria as the bad organisms that make them sick some foods like yogurt contain good bacteria that are beneficial to your body.

However this post deals with the bad bacteria and how they can make you sick. Because bacteria can multiply every 20 to 30 minutes, it is important to practice proper food preparation and cooking to prevent people from getting sick.

According to research bacterium can double within 20 to 30 minutes, so one bacterium turns into two, then two become four, leading eventually to the formation of millions in a few hours. And according to the American Centres for Disease Control it only takes as few as 10 E.coli bacteria to make you sick.

Bacterium requires certain environmental conditions in order to multiply and if you provide these conditions they will multiply on your food and cause sickness to those who consume it.

One of the conditions is a warm temperature, between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Another condition is nutrients. Bacteria thrive on protein, so food such as meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products and seafood are particularly at risk. The third environmental requirement is moisture, so drier foods are less likely to breed bacteria.