What are the four stages of bacterial growth in order?

The stages of bacterial growth represent the transition of bacteria as they grow and reproduce over time. The correct order starts with the Lag phase, where bacteria adapt to their new environment, metabolizing and preparing for cell division but not increasing in number significantly. Following this is the Log phase, wherein bacteria multiply at an exponential rate, resulting in a rapid increase in the population.

After the Log phase, the bacteria enter the Stationary phase. In this stage, the growth rate slows and stabilizes due to limited resources and increased waste products accumulation, resulting in the number of new cells produced balancing out with the number of cells dying. Finally, the Death phase occurs when the number of dying cells surpasses the number of new cells being produced, leading to a decline in the overall population.

Understanding these stages is fundamental to food safety, as they highlight how bacterial populations can grow under favorable conditions and the importance of managing those conditions to prevent foodborne illness. Each phase presents unique challenges for food safety professionals, especially in understanding and predicting bacterial behavior in food environments.