Psychrotrophic bacteria

Psychrotrophic bacteria are bacteria that are capable of surviving or even thriving in a cold environment. They can be found in soils^[1], in surface and deep sea waters^[2], in Antarctic ecosystems^[3], and in foods^[4].

Psychrotrophic bacteria are of particular concern to the dairy industry^[5]. Most are killed by pasteurization; however, they can be present in milk as post-pasteurization contaminants due to less than adequate sanitation practices. According to The Food Science Department at Cornell University, psychrotrophs are bacteria capable of growth at temperatures at or less than 7°C (44.6°F). At freezing temperatures, growth of pyschrotrophic bacteria becomes negligible or virtually stops^[6].

Psychrotrophic bacteria also fall under the more general category of psychrophiles.

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