Food that needs time and temperature control for safety because it is most vulnerable to pathogen
growth; these types of food have the FAT TOM conditions needed for bacterial growth and are also commonly
involved in foodborne-illness outbreaks.
Small, living organisms that can be seen only through a microscope; most living things, including
humans, carry microorganisms on, or in, their bodies.
An easy way to remember the six conditions that bacteria need to grow: food, acidity, temperature,
time, oxygen, and moisture.
Means that harmful things are present in food, making it unsafe to eat.
The naturally occurring proteins that cause allergic reactions.
When two or more people get the same illness after eating the same food, an
investigation is conducted by state and local regulatory authorities, and the outbreak is confi rmed by laboratory
analysis.
Certain groups of people that have a higher risk of getting a foodborne illness than others,
such as elderly people, preschool-age children, and people with compromised immune systems.
Organisms that get nourishment and protection from another living organism known as a host, such
as a person, animal, or plant. Parasites can live in many types of food that humans like to eat and also can
contaminate water. In the United States, the most common foodborne parasites are protozoa, roundworms, and
tapeworms.
Tiny plants that grow under almost any condition but grow especially well in acidic food with little moisture,
such as jams, jellies, and cured, salty meats such as bacon. Mold that is visible to the human eye is actually a
tangled mass of thousands of tiny mold plants. Molds often spoil food and sometimes produce toxins that can
make people sick. Sometimes mold is intentionally used to affect the fl avor or characteristics of a product, such as
with Brie, camembert, and gorgonzola cheeses.
Microorganism that can spoil food quickly, as indicated by the smell or taste of alcohol, white or pink
discoloration, slime, and bubbles; like molds, yeasts grow well in acidic food with little moisture, such as jellies,
jams, syrup, honey, and fruit or fruit juice.
Microorganisms that cause illness.
The body’s defense against illness.