Food Manager Practice Exam

Bacteria doubles every how many minutes?

1. 10 minutes

2. 15 minutes

3. 20 minutes

4. 30 minutes

The correct answer is: 20 minutes

The concept of bacterial growth, particularly binary fission, indicates that bacteria can double in population size under optimal conditions. The correct choice, which states that bacteria double every 20 minutes, reflects common estimates for many types of bacteria in favorable environments, such as those rich in nutrients and with ideal temperature. It's important to note that different species of bacteria may have varying doubling times, but many commonly studied bacteria, like Escherichia coli, do exhibit this rapid growth rate under ideal laboratory conditions. The significance of understanding bacterial doubling times lies in food safety and management, as it helps in assessing how quickly bacteria can proliferate, influencing food storage, preparation, and safety protocols. The other choices reflect common misconceptions or values that are not applicable to the species in question. Doubling in 10 minutes would suggest an extremely high growth rate that is not typical for most bacteria, while 15 and 30 minutes also do not align with the rapid growth rate observed in certain conditions for many commonly studied bacteria. Understanding the 20-minute doubling time provides a realistic framework for anticipating bacterial growth in food safety management.