Types of Bacteria in Refrigerated Foods

　　There are two completely different families of bacteria: pathogenic bacteria, the kind that cause foodborne illness, and spoilagebacteria, the kind of bacteria that cause foods to deteriorate and develop unpleasant odors, tastes, and textures.

　　Pathogenic bacteria can grow rapidly in the "Danger Zone," the temperature range between 40 and 140 °F, but they do not generally affect the taste, smell, or appearance of a food. In other words, one cannot tell that a pathogen is present.　　

　　Spoilage bacteria can grow at low temperatures, such as in the refrigerator. Eventually they cause food to develop off or bad tastes and smells. Most people would not choose to eat spoiled food, but if they did, they probably would not get sick. It comes down to an issue of quality versus safety:　　

　　Food that has been left too long on the counter may be dangerous to eat, but could look fine.　　

　　Food that has been stored too long in the refrigerator or freezer may be of lessened quality, but most likely would not make anyone sick. (However, some bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes thrive at cold temperatures, and if present, will multiply in the refrigerator over time and could cause illness.)

Panasonic is buying Hussmann in the US to expand in food display cabinet business - Dec 21, 2015

Content forwarded from industry week, link:

http://www.industryweek.com/global-economy/panasonic-buys-us-refrigeration-company-hussmann

TOKYO — Japanese electronics giant Panasonic announced Monday that it would buy Hussmann, a U.S.-based food refrigeration systems company, for $1.54 billion as part of its drive to expand in the American food retail sector.

Panasonic said in a statement that the purchase would help it to increase its business for freezer display cases in the United States — the world’s biggest market for the product — as well as to areas near the giant economy and markets such as Australia and New Zealand.

Calling the deal a “strategic acquisition,” Osaka-based Panasonic said the purchase would combine the Hussmann’s excellence in customer service and maintenance with Panasonic technology.

“Panasonic will use this synergy to drive growth and further innovation on a global basis,” the company said in a release.

The purchase will be completed in April 2016, making the U.S. firm a wholly-owned subsidiary, Panasonic said. The Hussmann brand and the current management will remain.

Major Japanese companies have been rushing to buy foreign firms as a way to secure future growth. The Japanese domestic market has faced chronically weak consumption, and the nation’s shrinking population has posed a threat to Japan’s growth prospects. 

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015