Spores are a highly resistant form of bacteria and are capable of surviving various environmental stresses. When food is contaminated with spores, it can result in food spoilage and food-borne illness. Although it is important to develop procedures to control the germination and outgrowth of food-contaminating spores, there is limited biological information about the spores of anaerobic Clostridium spp. In this mini-review, recent advances in the biological behaviors of Clostridium spp. spores are summarized, and the possible burden in food hygiene induced by putative “damaged-but-viable” spores is discussed. Concerted efforts to elucidate the biological specificity of spores are needed to develop new control measures applicable to a variety of hygienic processes.
