CAN BACTERIA BE GOOD?
Did you know that some bacteria are actually helpful to human beings? Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that cannot be seen without the help of a microscope. Bacteria can be found almost everywhere on Earth -- in thick soil, deep down in the oceans and even way up in the atmosphere. Some bacteria cause diseases, even deadly ones. Harmful bacteria can make people, animals and even plants very sick. They can cause food to go bad and poison people and animals that eat it.
But other bacteria are actually helpful to humans! Some helpful bacteria play an important role in making several types of food that we eat! Bacteria are used to make buttermilk, sauerkraut, cheese and vinegar. They do this by causing a chemical change called fermentation. Bacteria are also helpful when they attack dead plants and animals in nature, breaking them down so that they mix into the soil and make it healthy for our plants and trees.