Food Spoilage - Microbial Contamination

Question 1

Microorganisms are the principle cause of what in relation to food?

Answer 1

They are the principle cause of food spoilage

Question 2

What is the principle cause of food spoilage?

Answer 2

Microorganisms

Question 3

What conditions does food provide for the growth of microorganisms?
(5)

Answer 3

Food
Moisture
PH
Oxygen
Temperature

Question 4

What are the main microorganisms responsible for food spoilage?

Answer 4

Yeasts
Moulds
Bacteria

Question 5

What microorganisms cause visible food spoilage of the exterior of a food?

Answer 5

Moulds and Yeasts

Question 6

What microorganisms cause food spoilage on both the interior and exterior of food?

Answer 6

Bacteria

Question 7

How do bacteria cause the interior spoilage of food?

Answer 7

They produce endotoxins and exotoxins which are not visible

Question 8

Which microorganisms cause food poisoning?

Answer 8

Moulds, yeasts and bacterial cause food poisoning however food poisoning by yeasts and moulds is rare as the food is visibly spoiled but bacterial food poisoning is common as it is not visible

Question 9

What are the toxins produced by certain moulds called?

Answer 9

Mycotoxins

Question 10

What is the effect of mycotoxins on the human body?

Answer 10

They are carcinogenic (cause cancer)

Question 11

Give an example of a mould which produces a toxin and name the mould produced?

Answer 11

The toxin aflatoxin is produced by the mould Aspergillus flavus