Pathogens need six conditions to grow. These can be remembered by the acronym FAT TOM. A brief explanation of each condition follows.

Introduction to Bacterial Growth

•Food: Bacteria require food in order to grow. Foods with sufficient amounts of proteins and carbohydrates are best for bacterial growth. These are commonly found in food such as meat, poultry, dairy products, and eggs, as well as some grains and vegetables.

•Acidity: pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a food is. Food with a pH between 0.0 and 6.9 is acidic, while food with a pH between 7.1 and 14.0 is alkaline. Pathogens typically do not grow in alkaline food, such as crackers, or highly acidic food, such as lemons. They grow best in food that contains little or no acid (a pH of 4.6 to 7.5).

•Temperature: Pathogens grow well in food held between the temperatures of 41*F and 135*F (5*C and 57*C). This range is known as the temperature danger zone.

•Time: Pathogens need time to grow. When food is in the temperature danger zone, pathogens grow. After four hours, they will grow to a level high enough to cause illness.