Please find the answers and explanations below: Why might one expect to find coliform in samples of meat? Answer: The animal intestine normally contains coliform bacteria but these do not pose any health hazard unless they penetrate the flesh/muscles. These bacteria are also eliminated from the intestine by the route of egestion through faeces. While butchering, the animal flesh might accidently get contaminated with this infected faeces or acquire coliform spores from the open environment itself. This can directly lead to contamination and rottening of the flesh. Thus, due to poor sanitation conditions, one might expect coliform in samples of meat which can cause diseases. b) What is the danger associated with this type of contamination? Answer: Although these coliforms normally reside as good-flora in the intestine, but when present in exceedingly high amounts such as contaminated meat, consumption of such food can lead to food-poisoning and infection of the gastro-intestinal tract. This can lead to indigestion, diarrhoea, poor assimilation of nutrients, vomiting tendency, nutrient loss and dehydration. Thus, such clinical situations are alarming and demand attention. c) In terms of food safety, why is it suggested to cook hamburgers medium-well to well-done whereas steaks can be cooked rare? Answer: In the modern times, the trend of packed food is very advanced. People tend to consume pre-cooked or packaged food owing to ease and quickness. It is very well known that bacteria are omnipresent in nature and given a chance, they can definitely incubate on a substratum surface and contaminate it. The steak surface are very good substratum for this purpose. However, heating the steaks can lead to decontamination since bacteria cannot survive on heat. This is why it is said that the food should be properly cooked on heat before eating. Hamburgers are particularly prone to infection due to added reasons. During process of making a hamburger, the metallic dicers are used to finely chop the meat. Since these metallic dicers remain open in contact with air, they are highly vulnerable for infectious growth of bacteria/pathogens. Moreover, mechanical churning of the meat will further promote even distribution of the pathogen in the complete lot of the hamburgers making them more vulnerable to infection. Thus, it is always strictly suggested to cook hamburgers medium-well to well-done. On the other hand, the steaks are only surface infected with bacteria and small and short episodes of heat exposure can directly kill these pathogens. Thus, it is suggested that cooking the steaks moderately is accepted in terms of food safety. Solution Please find the answers and explanations below: Why might one expect to find coliform in samples of meat? Answer: The animal intestine normally contains coliform bacteria but these do not pose any health hazard unless they penetrate the flesh/muscles. These bacteria are also eliminated from the intestine by the route of e.