Microorganisms, Food Safety &

HACCP

What is a Microorganism?

• Microorganisms (microbes) are viruses, bacteria and fungi

• They are too small to be seen with the naked eye, but can be seen with a microscope

• They are single celled organisms

Image Credit: USDA

Photo by: Scott Bauer

Where Do Microbes Live?

• Microbes live in the water you drink, the food you eat, and the air you breathe.

• Right now, billions of microbes are swimming in your belly and mouth, and crawling on your skin!

Are Microbes Harmful?

• 95% of all microbes are harmless

• Some are very beneficial to humans

• Bacteria in people’s intestines help to digest food

• Some harmless microbes protect people by competing with harmful microbes for space

Image Credit: www.microorganisms.com

How do Microbes Multiply?

• They multiply QUICKLY!

• Scientists often use scientific notation to express their large numbers

Number Scientific Notation

1 1x100

100 1x102

10,000 1x104

1,000,000 1x106

Some Common Harmful Bacteria in Food

Name Where is it found?

Disease/Result

Salmonella Raw meats, poultry, dairy products, vegetables and fruits

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever

E.Coli 0157:H7 Raw and undercooked ground beef, other red meat, unpasteurized milk, soft cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables

Abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, occasional fever

Salmonella & E.Coli 0157:H7

Image Credit: EHA Consulting Group Inc.

Salmonella

E.Coli 0157:H7

Why are Space Scientists Concerned about Microbes?

• Seven astronauts (each with their own microbes) will be living in small, air-tight space for months or years

• Harmful microbes can spread and make the crew sick

• Aspects of spaceflight are known to weaken the human immune system

• Certain microbes can attack the materials and hardware of the Station

Image Credit: USDA

What is NASA Doing to Eliminate Harmful Microbes in Space?

• Testing each crewmate for infection before launch

• Only healthy crew members are allowed to fly in space

What About the Water and Air?

• Air, water and surfaces with which crew members interact must be kept clean

• All air in the space station will pass through filters-High Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filters

• Water will be disinfected by a machine called a Catalytic Oxidator

Protecting Space Station Materials

• Some harmful microbes can thrive on the Space Station

• Eventually, they could eat away at the Space Station material

Image Credit: NASA

Protection of the Space Station Materials

• Humidity of the air will be kept low

• Astronauts will clean materials

• Paint with a fungus-killing chemical will be used

Image Credit: NASA

How can we control microbial growth here on

Earth?

NASA Spin-offs

• Dozens of NASA Spin-offs have improved our lives here on Earth

• In order to prevent bacterial contamination in space, NASA hired Pillsbury to develop a preventative food safety program

• Pillsbury developed the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program

HACCP

• HACCP is designed to prevent food safety problems rather than catch then after they occur

• It includes seven principles

• It was adopted by the FDA in the1990’s

HACCP’s Seven Principles for Food Safety

1. Analyze Hazards

2. Identify Critical Control Points

Principles 3 & 4

3. Establish Critical Limits for each Critical Control Point

4. Establish Monitoring Procedures

Principles 5, 6 & 7

5. Establish Corrective Actions

6. Establish Verification Activities

7. Establish Records and Documentation

What are some ways your could implement HACCP Principles in your home

kitchen?