Conditions conducive to bacterial growth include:

Intoxications are the result of poisons or toxins that enter the system after they have been produced in food as a result of bacterial growth rather than from the bacteria themselves. Infections are caused by bacteria or other organisms that enter and attack the human body.

Bacteria have no means of locomotion; they must be carried from one place to another. Travel may be instituted through hands, coughs, sneezes, other foods, unsanitary equipment or utensils, or environmental factors such as air, water, insects, and rodents. Only sterilization will eliminate bacteria, so it is extremely important to understand the simple rules governing bacteria’s growth and travel to help prevent bacterial contamination in the kitchen.