Concept:
Factors affecting microbial growth in food are classified into two main categories.
• Intrinsic Factors: Properties of the food itself (pH, moisture, nutrients, redox potential).
• Extrinsic Factors: Properties of the storage environment.
• Understanding these helps in designing effective food preservation techniques.
Step 1: Defining Extrinsic Factors.
Extrinsic factors are the external environmental conditions where the food is kept.
They are independent of the food's internal composition.
Step 2: Identifying the specific factors.
1. Temperature: Controls the rate of enzymatic reactions.
2. Relative Humidity: Affects the water activity on the food surface.
3. Atmospheric Gases: Presence of $O_2$ or $CO_2$ dictates which microbes can grow.
Step 3: Comparing with other options.
Options A, C, and D include pH, water activity, or redox potential.
These are all Intrinsic factors.
Final Answer: (B)