Question

Write a short paragraph on the role of microorganism as source of food

Answer 1

Write a short paragraph on the role of microorganism as source of food

Microorganisms play an important role in food industry. As already discussed in the earlier article Contributions of Microbiology in Food Industry, they are used in production of various food products, and are also responsible for food spoilage thereby causing intoxication and diseases.

Microbial contamination of food products takes places usually on the way from the field to the processing plant, or during processing, storage, transport and distribution or before consumption. The microorganisms that cause food spoilage and also find the maximum exploitation in production of food and food products are mainly bacteria, molds and yeasts.

Answer 2

Food may be contaminated from outside sources on the way from the field to the processing plant, or during transport, storage and distribution. There are thousands of different types of micro-organisms everywhere in air, water,soil and foods, and in the digestive tract of animals and human. Fortunately, the majority of microbes usefully functions in the environment and in some branches of of food industry, such as production of wine, beer, dairy products , bakery products, etc. On the other hand unwanted food spoilage is generally caused by microbes and contamination of food with pathogens causes food safety problems.The micro-organisms occurring on and in foods are divided into three groups: bacteria, yeast and molds. Molds are generally concerned in the food spoilage; their use in the food industry is limited.Yeasts are the most widely used microbes in the food industry due to their ability to ferment sugars to ethanol and carbon-dioxide. Some types of yeast, like baker’s yeasts are grown industrially, and some may be used as protein sources, mainly in animal feed. Bacteria are important in food microbiology may be divided into groups according to the fermentation product, e.g. lactic acid bacteria, propionic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria. Bearing in mind the food constituent attacked, prolytic, saccharolytic and lipolytic bacteria may be distinguished.

Microorganisms are essential for the production of foods such as cheese, yogurt, bread, beer, wine and other fermented foods. Fermentation is one of the methods to preserve food and alter its quality. Yeast, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is used to leaven bread, brew beer and make wine. Certain bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria, are used to make yogurt, cheese, hot sauce, pickles, fermented sausages and dishes. A common effect of these fermentations is that the food product is less hospitable to other microorganisms, including pathogens and spoilage-causing microorganisms, thus extending the food's shelf-life. Some cheese varieties also require molds to ripen and develop their characteristic flavours.

Bacteria

Yeast

Molds

Fungi

Citric acid production by fungi

Production of enzymes

Production of vinegar

Lactic Acid Bacteria

Lactic Acid Bacteria

Lactic Acid Bacteria