Bacteria and food

Man has been using bacteria for thousands of years, but he has only recently become aware of such uses. Very many foods are made with the aid of bacteria. These micro-organisms modify raw foods and transform them into new products with different chemical, physical, sensory and nutritional characteristics. In addition, these foods have a longer shelf life and sometimes they are even safer to use. Cheese, yoghurt, bread, wine, even dressed pork products and preserves are made with the aid of different species of bacteria.

 
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Special reports

From the Multimedia section

Facts

  • Bio-luminescence

    Many sea animals, including a lot of fish and molluscs that live in the dark in the ocean depths...

    Bacteria as Sherlock Holmes

    A drop of blood, a fragment of skin or a hair found on the scene of a crime can supply…

    Down-pouring bacteria

    It sounds incredible, but recent researches have found that bacteria can cause some atmospheric phenomena...

  • Bacteria as miners

    The ability of chemoautotrophic bacteria to take energy from...

    High-fashion bacteria

    Some bacteria, the Clostridia, were used to make textile fibres...

    Bacteria as detergents

    Enzymes are proteins produced by the cells of all living organisms...

  • Let’s eat!

    The economic importance of fungi is increased by the “edible” mushrooms...

    Predator mushroom

    <em>Pleutrotus ostreatus</em> mushroom does not have teeth or claws but it is...

    Who lives well with low oxygen?

    <i><span style="font-style: normal; " class="Apple-style-span"><i><em>Aquandriella fermentas</em> </i>lives in stagnant waters and can stand complete anaerobiosis...</span></i>

  • 13 May 2011

    Bio-luminescence

    Many sea animals, including a lot of fish and molluscs that live in the dark in the ocean depths...

    Bacteria as Sherlock Holmes

    A drop of blood, a fragment of skin or a hair found on the scene of a crime can supply…

  • Down-pouring bacteria

    It sounds incredible, but recent researches have found that bacteria can cause some atmospheric phenomena...

    Bacteria as miners

    The ability of chemoautotrophic bacteria to take energy from...

  • High-fashion bacteria

    Some bacteria, the Clostridia, were used to make textile fibres...

    Bacteria as detergents

    Enzymes are proteins produced by the cells of all living organisms...

  • Bio-luminescence

    Many sea animals, including a lot of fish and molluscs that live in the dark in the ocean depths...

  • Bacteria as Sherlock Holmes

    A drop of blood, a fragment of skin or a hair found on the scene of a crime can supply…

  • Down-pouring bacteria

    It sounds incredible, but recent researches have found that bacteria can cause some atmospheric phenomena...