Flocculation: Agglomeration or building of
a macrofloc resulting from coagulation into
larger particles until the sheer force of water
movement prevents further building or until
it settles out.
Germicide: A chemical that kills certain
microbial cells.
GRAS substances: Food additives that are
designated as “Generally Regarded As Safe”
for use.
Host: A plant or animal harboring another
as a parasite or as an infectious agent.
Hygiene: Practices necessary for establish-
ing and maintaining good health.
Immunocompromised: An individual sus-
ceptible to a foodborne illness due to an exist-
ing disease or weakened physical condition.
Infection: A condition caused by the inva-
sion of the tissues of a host by living patho-
genic microorganisms.
Infestation: Occupation or invasion by par-
asites other than bacteria.
Intoxication: A disease caused by consump-
tion of poisons naturally occurring in food or
produced by pathogenic microorganisms.
Listeriosis: Foodborne infection caused by
Listeria monocytogeneswith a high mortality
rate among immunocompromised individuals.
Mycotoxins: Compounds or metabolites
produced by different fungi that have toxic or
other adverse effects on humans and animals.
Nonionic: Lacking an electrical charge
through a balance of negatively and posi-
tively charged compounds.
Organism: An individual living thing.Parasite: An organism that derives its nour-
ishment from a living plant or animal host
and does not contribute to the host’s well-
being but does not necessarily cause a dis-
ease.Pathogen: A microorganism capable of
producing disease when it enters the human
or animal body.pH: A logarithmic measurement on a
scale from 0 to 14, of acidity and alkalinity
due to hydrogen and hydroxyl ion concen-
tration.Pollution: The accumulation of foreign,
unwanted matter that becomes a nuisance
or a danger to the health of the environ-
ment.Potable: Suitable or safe for drinking.Precipitate: A deposit of an insoluble sub-
stance resulting from chemical or physical
changes in a solution.Precision: Representative of how closely
replicate values approximate each other.Sanitary: Free of disease-causing microor-
ganisms and other harmful substances.Sanitation: The creation and maintenance
of conditions favorable to good health.Sanitize: Treatment by heat or chemicals to
reduce the number of microorganisms present.Soap: A compound of fatty acids and alka-
lies that has cleaning properties.Spore: An inactive, resistant, resting, or
reproductive body that can produce another