Question

Which of the following statements are correct with regards to Pasteur effect?

• A. Inhibition of fermentation
• B. Inhibition of aerobic respiration
• C. Heating the food to kill microorganisms
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is A Inhibition of fermentation

The facultative anaerobes (a facultative anaerobe is an organism that makes ATP by aerobic respiration if oxygen is present, but is capable of switching to fermentation if oxygen is absent) under low concentration of oxygen produce ethanol, carbon dioxide and ATP. But in the presence of high concentration of oxygen, the facultative anaerobes are forced to make a sudden shift from anaerobic to aerobic respiration, thus inhibiting the fermentation process. This effect was discovered in 1857 by Louis Pasteur. Thus, it is called the Pasteur effect.

Heating the food to kill microorganisms at less than 100°C is termed as pasteurization.