Based on the 6 bacterial growth requirements discussed in the previous pages, there are some foods that make it easier for pathogenic bacteria to grow and thrive. We call these Hazardous Foods. Now that we understand what bacteria need to survive, it may be easier to identify what foods can be potentially hazardous, if not handled with care.

*Reminder: Hazardous foods are any food that can support the growth of a pathogen. Hazardous foods can further be categorized as high risk or low risk, depending on how well they can support pathogenic growth on their own.

Over the next few pages of this module, you will learn what types of foods are most hazardous, and you will be able to order them from high to low risk. Let's take a look...