History of food microbiology
As a discipline, Food Microbiology does not have a precise beginning. Events which stretched over several centuries ultimately led to the recognition of the significance and role of microorganisms in foods. Food borne disease and food spoilage have been part of the human experience since the dawn of our race. Although the actual cause of these problems would remain a mystery for thousands of years, many early civilizations discovered and applied effective methods to preserve and protect their food: 7000 BC – Evidence that the Babylonians manufactured beer (fermentation). Wine appeared in about 3500 BC. In early civilizations (and even today in underdeveloped countries where modern sanitation is lacking), alcoholic beverages like beer and wine were much safer to consume than the local water supply, because the water was often contaminated with intestinal microorganisms that caused cholera, dysentery and other serious diseases. 6000 BC – The first apparent referenc