Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Question from a student 20170503e

Q:
Sorry for bothering. May I know what is the minimum pH limit of
i) E.coli
ii) Salmonella?
Is adjusting pH to 4.2 effective in controlling their growth respectively?
Since there are many different data that confuse me.

A:
pH 4.2 should be effective in controlling the growth of most E. coli and Salmonella strains. However, some E. coli serotypes, such as O157:H7, can survive at pH 4.2. You have to note that minimum, optimum, and maximum of whatever microorganisms are affected by many factors, including their own biology, other environmental factors, and growth stages, there is no absolute limit. They are at best approximations. That is a reality. We can only note the limits as general features not absolutely applicable to all strains of a species.  

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