Metabolism slows.
Most food poisoning bacteria can't continue to grow and multiply at temperatures below 5°C. There are some exceptions such as Listeria.
It actually depends on the kind of bacteria. Based on their temperature requirements (temperatures at which they grow) bacteria are classified as psychrophiles (very low temperatures... even below zero).. mesophiles (above zero to say 20-30 on an average...).. thermophiles (above 50).. extreme thermophiles (very extreme temperatures such as hot springs.. may be in hundreds...).
Most certainly. Temperatures below freezing only slow or stop the growth of bacteria. Such temperatures do not kill them. Just an FYI . . . The danger zone of 40°F to 140°F is the temperature range where pathogens like to grow - not where they are killed.
A microorganism that has an optimum temperature below 15 degreesC and is capable of growth at 0 degrees C,true psychrophiles are obligate with respect to cold and cannot grow abpve 20 degrees
At temperatures of 45°F or below, bacteria grow more slowly because the cold temperature reduces their metabolic activity. This limits their replication and slows down their growth rate. Additionally, cold temperatures can also inhibit the production of enzymes necessary for bacteria to thrive.
This varies depending upon the individual bacteria. E. coli and Salmonella species tend to stop dividing below temperatures of 44.6 degrees F. Listeria monocytogenes will continue to divide until the temperature drops below about 32 degree F. There are some bacteria, called cryobacteria, that can reproduce at temperatures well below freezing.
It is extremely important that alarms are raised when conditions fall below optimum.
The optimum temperature for many enzymes is around 40 degrees Celsius because that is the temperature at which the enzyme's activity is highest. At this temperature, the enzyme's structure is optimal for binding to substrates and catalyzing reactions efficiently. Temperatures above or below this optimum can cause denaturation of the enzyme, leading to a loss of activity.
Below 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit), most bacteria that are associated with foodborne illnesses would stop increasing in number.
Bacteria generally slow down in growth and reproduction below 50°F (10°C). This is because lower temperatures slow down metabolic processes and enzyme activity in bacteria, reducing their ability to multiply quickly. Some bacteria may even become dormant at very low temperatures.
Thermophiles can grow at 55oC or higher, optimum often between 55 and 65oC. A few thermophile can grow at 90oC or above and some have maxima above 100oC. Procaryotes that have growth optim between 80oC and about 113oC are called hyperthermophiles. They usually do not grow well below 55oC.
Psychrophilic bacteria, such as Psychrobacter and Colwellia species, are known to thrive in cold environments at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius. These bacteria have adapted to survive and grow in these extreme conditions by producing special enzymes and cell structures that allow them to function at low temperatures.