Question

Identify the index organism of pasteurization efficacy:

• A. Escherichia coli
• B. Bacillus subtilis
• C. Staphylococcus aureus
• D. Coxiella burnetti

Hint:

Coxiella burnetti is chosen as the standard indicator for pasteurization efficacy due to its exceptional heat resistance. If pasteurization can eliminate this pathogen, it ensures the process is effective for most foodborne microorganisms.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Coxiella burnetti is the index organism of pasteurization efficacy. This organism is used to evaluate the effectiveness of pasteurization because it is more heat-resistant than many other microorganisms commonly found in food and beverages. Coxiella burnetti is a bacterium that causes Q fever and is used as the reference microorganism for testing pasteurization processes, particularly in the dairy industry.
The rationale for using Coxiella burnetti is based on its high resistance to heat, which makes it a challenging organism to kill during pasteurization. When pasteurization conditions are set to effectively destroy Coxiella burnetti, it ensures that other less heat-resistant pathogens will also be eliminated or inactivated, ensuring the safety of the product.
Other microorganisms like Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus are important in food safety but are not as resilient to heat as Coxiella burnetti. Therefore, they are not used as standard indicators for pasteurization efficacy.