What is required to destroy bacteria?

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Multiple Choice

What is required to destroy bacteria?

Explanation:
Destroying bacteria relies on heat delivered as a kill step: the food or surface must reach a suitable temperature and be held there for enough time so the heat penetrates all areas and kills the organisms. Simply washing with soap and water can remove some bacteria but doesn’t reliably kill them all. Rapid cooling slows or stops growth but doesn’t eradicate bacteria that are already present. Preservatives may inhibit growth, but they don’t consistently destroy bacteria. So the essential idea is the right combination of temperature and time to accomplish the kill step.

Destroying bacteria relies on heat delivered as a kill step: the food or surface must reach a suitable temperature and be held there for enough time so the heat penetrates all areas and kills the organisms. Simply washing with soap and water can remove some bacteria but doesn’t reliably kill them all. Rapid cooling slows or stops growth but doesn’t eradicate bacteria that are already present. Preservatives may inhibit growth, but they don’t consistently destroy bacteria. So the essential idea is the right combination of temperature and time to accomplish the kill step.

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