b. Mechanism
Microorganisms react homeostatically to stress factors. Whentheirenvironmentis disturbedbya stress factor, they
usually react in ways that maintain somekey element of their physiology constant. Microorganisms undergo many
importanthomeostaticreactions(Table3).Preservative factors functioningas hurdlescan disturb oneor more ofthe
homeostasis mechanisms, thereby preventing microorganisms from multiplyingandcausingthemto
remain inactive or even die. Therefore, foodpreservation is achieved by disturbingthe homeostasis of microorganisms.
The best way todo this is todeliberately disturb several homeostasis mechanismssimultaneously thusa combination
ofmultiple hurdles (hurdle technology) couldincrease the effectiveness offoodpreservation.