The pH of the environment can support growth or hinder neutrophilic organisms. When the pH is within the microbe's range, they grow and within that range there is an optimal growth pH. Neutrophiles are adapted to live in an environment where the hydrogen ion concentration is at equilibrium. Manipulation of the pH of the environment that the microbe is in is used by the food industry to control its growth in order to increase the
shelf life of food. ==See also==