Which type of microorganism cannot grow in food but can be transmitted by it?

Viruses are a type of microorganism that cannot grow in food because they require a living host cell to replicate. Unlike bacteria, fungi, and parasites, viruses lack the machinery necessary for metabolic processes and replication outside of a host. However, they can be transmitted through food. For instance, food can become contaminated with viruses from infected food handlers, and if someone consumes this contaminated food, they can become infected, even though the virus does not proliferate in the food itself.

Bacteria, fungi, and parasites can grow and reproduce in food, leading to foodborne illnesses. Bacteria multiply rapidly under suitable conditions, fungi can flourish in any environment with moisture and suitable nutrients, and parasites can complete their life cycles in food. Thus, viruses stand out as the only option on the list that can be transmitted via food without being able to grow in it.