Answer to Question #10532 in Microbiology for Raquel Smedley

Question

name three foods that are prepared by microbial process. list how the food is prepared,microbial process, substrate, and the microorganism involved

Answer 1

1) Pickles. Cucumbers are fermented using lactic acid producing bacteria, giving pickles their sour taste and also preventing harmful strains of bacteria from taking hold. Microbes used: Enterobacter aerogenes, Lactobacillus brevis and L. plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus cerevisiae, Enterococcus faecalis.
2) Olives. Basically inedible until they are fermented, olives are also fermented using lactic acid producing bacteria, including Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum. and Leuconostoc.
3) Yogurt. Bacteria added to milk produce lactic acid that makes the yogurt sour and partially breaks down the lactose in the milk. Microbes used: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus.