Parasites, major foodborne illnesses caused by parasites
Parasites CANNOT grow in food MUST need a host to grow, such as cows
Microworld Key Terms – Microorganism – Pathogens – Toxins – FAT TOM (Food Acidity, Temperature, Time, Oxygen, Moisture) – Viruses – Bacteria, spore – Parasites – Fungi – Mold – Yeast
Conditions for growth
Moulds Very small simple plants that appear on foods with a ‘whisker like’ appearance Not all are bad – cheese, penicillin Grow quickly Produce toxins that cause illness Most moulds affect the quality of the food
Yeasts Single cell plants or organisms Not all are bad – beer, wine and bread
pH Level
The level of acidity in food 1 = very acidic 14 = very alkaline 7 = neutral, neither acid nor alkaline Most micro-organisms grow best at near neutral pH. Bacteria is less tolerant than moulds or yeasts