How bacteria grow

We’ve looked at the basic types of bacteria. Now it’s time to look at where they can crop up. What situations encourage bacteria to grow?

Bacteria are living organisms and they need four things to grow and multiply:

• food
• moisture
• warmth
• time

Some foods which are high in protein, rich in nutrients, and contain moisture are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria – especially if you keep them in warm conditions.

These foods are known as “high risk foods”. They are especially high risk if they are ready to eat without going through any cooking process to kill off bacteria.

Unpasteurised cheese is a bit of a risk – and is not legally allowed for sale in many countries. It tastes so good, though, that some people think it’s worth the risk. I’m happy taking a risk because I know that’s what I’m doing. I could never be happy risking something that I didn’t know was a risk in the first place. It’s as well to be clued up on these things.

Note that one thing missing from the list above is oxygen. Some bacteria don’t need oxygen to multiply – in fact, it can be positively harmful to them. So ensuring that food is in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in cling film is NOT a guarantee that you’re safe from multiplying bacteria. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security.

This is Chapter Two, Part Two in a series of articles broadly similar to the course offered by the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health for its Food Hygiene Certificate.
Part Three: High Risk Foods
Return to the start of Chapter Two