Foodborne IllnessQuestion 8 of 50077% of test-takers answer this correctly

The acronym FAT TOM describes the six conditions bacteria need to grow. What do the letters stand for?

a.Fat, Acidity, Temperature, Time, Oxygen, Moisture
b.Fat, Acidity, Time, Texture, Oxygen, Micronutrients
c.Food, Acidity, Temperature, Time, Oxygen, Moisture
d.Food, Air, Time, Temperature, Oxygen, Minerals

Explanation

FAT TOM stands for Food, Acidity, Temperature, Time, Oxygen, and Moisture — the six conditions pathogens need, so removing even one slows growth. Temperature and time are the two a manager can actually control. Each wrong option swaps a real letter for a look-alike: Fat for Food, Texture for Temperature, Micronutrients or Minerals for Moisture, and Air for Acidity.

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