Basic Food Microbiology

Introduction of Microorganism

Why do we need to

Microbiology is a specialized area of biology

identify bacteria in
food ?

that deals living things that are too small to

be seen with naked eyes
The too small organisms are called
microorganism or microbes

Safeguard human
health
Prevent spoilage of
food

Zulhan (2007)

Zulhan (2007)

Introduction of Microorganism
(cont)

Evolution of Food Microbiology

Microorganisms are tiny, mostly one-celled

Food preservation

organisms capable of rapid reproduction

under proper growth conditions.
Bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, and
protozoans.

Food spoilage
Food poisoning
Food legislation

Zulhan (2007)

Zulhan (2007)

Microbes

Bacteria

Bacteria

Most important biological foodborne hazards

Fungi

Exist in vegetative cell

Molds
Yeast

Grow, reproduced and produces waste

Some - Sporeformer

Parasites

Viruses

Spore thick wall formation within the bacterial cell

capable of becoming a vegetative cell
Resistant to heat, cold and chemical
May survive some cooking temperature
Helps survival in the extreme environment

Not able to grow or reproduce

Zulhan (2007)

Zulhan (2007)

Bacteria (cont..)

Bacteria (cont..)

The Size and Shape

Effects on food
They can cause spoilage;
They can cause food borne illness;
They can transform a food properties in a
beneficial way food fermentation

Extremely small
Vary in size

Vary in Shape

0.1m to 5m
Coccus
Bacillus
Spirilla

Zulhan (2007)

Zulhan (2007)

Spoilage and Disease Causing Bacteria

Fungi

Spoilage Bacteria
Degrade food
Reduce quality of food to unacceptable levels

The fungi (singular

Pathogenic Bacteria
Disease causing microorganisms
Foodborne illness

Use organic chemicals for

fungus) are a kingdom

of eukaryotic
organisms.
energy

Yeasts, molds, and

mushrooms are
examples of fungi.

Zulhan (2007)

Zulhan (2007)

Molds

Mold Characteristics

Molds are the most typical forms of fungus

Some molds germinate in four-to-twelve hours

Left undisturbed, mold can grow and spread in

Molds are ubiquitous and essential

decomposers of organic substances

The mycelium is made from strings of hyphae,
which makes the body that we see
Molds reproduce via spores

Zulhan (2007)

24-72 hours
Floods, leaking pipes, leaking windows, leaking

roofs, humidity, spoiled food, and poor

housekeeping can lead to mold growth and
infestation
Molds can hide away until the right conditions
cause germination and growth
Some molds produce toxic mycotoxins
All molds, under the proper conditions, are
capable of eliciting a negative health response in
humans
Zulhan (2007)

Yeast

Yeast (cont)

Yeasts are unicellular, eukaryotic microorganisms

This causes the physical, chemical, and

classified in the kingdom Fungi

Reproduce by budding
The yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae has
been used in baking and fermenting alcoholic
beverages for thousands of years.
Able to grow in low pH, (5.5 or lower), the presence
of sugars, organic acids and other easily
metabolized carbon sources

sensory properties of a food to change, and

the food is spoilt
The growth of yeast within food products is
often seen on thier surface, as in cheeses or
meats, or by the fermentation of sugars in
beverages, such as juices, and semi-liquid
products, such as syrups and jams

Zulhan (2007)

Zulhan (2007)

Parasites

Parasites (cont)

What are

How are they transmitted?

Organisms that derive

nourishment and
protection from other
living organisms known
as hosts.
Several parasites have
emerged as significant
causes of foodborne and
waterborne disease.
Live and reproduce
within the tissues and
organs of infected human
and animal hosts, and
are often excreted in
feces.

through consumption of contaminated food and

water, or by putting anything into your mouth
that has touched the stool (feces) of an infected
person or animal.

How do they vary?

different types and range in size from tiny,

single-celled, microscopic organisms (protozoa)
to larger, multi-cellular worms (helminths) that
may be seen without a microscope.

Zulhan (2007)

Zulhan (2007)

Viruses

Viruses

Viruses are extremely small parasites.

Outside a cell, a virus can't reproduce itself;

They require living cells of plants, animals, or

bacteria for growth.

The virus is mainly a packet of genetic
material which must be reproduced by the
host.

Zulhan (2007)

but once a virus invades a living cell, it turns

that cell into a virus factory. In time,
thousands of new viruses burst out and go on
to invade other cells.

Zulhan (2007)

Viruses (Cont)

Microbial Growth
Growth
an increase in the number of cells, not an
increase in size
Generation

growth by binary fission

Generation time

Zulhan (2007)

time it takes for a cell to divide and the

population to double; most are 1-3 hours
(E.coli: every 20 min.)
Zulhan (2007)