Which temperature range allows dangerous bacteria like *Bacillus cereus* to thrive in improperly brewed sun tea?

Answer

$40^\circ\text{F}$ and $140^\circ\text{F}$

Food safety is a paramount concern when brewing tea outdoors using ambient warmth, especially when the sun is absent. Bacteria, such as *Bacillus cereus*, which can originate from soil or tea leaves themselves, multiply rapidly within a specific thermal band known as the danger zone. Health guidelines consistently point to the temperature range between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit as the environment where these microorganisms find optimal conditions for rapid multiplication. When the day is overcast, the water may fail to reach the upper threshold of this zone (140 degrees Fahrenheit), meaning the tea is not only weakly flavored but also sits dangerously long within the multiplication zone without sufficient heat to reliably curb bacterial growth. Temperatures significantly above this range, such as near boiling, are generally bactericidal.

Which temperature range allows dangerous bacteria like *Bacillus cereus* to thrive in improperly brewed sun tea?

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