Which of the following is NOT a factor in bacterial growth?

Bacterial growth is influenced by several environmental factors, and understanding these can help in food safety and management practices. While moisture, temperature, and time are critical components that directly affect the proliferation of bacteria, exposure to sunlight does not play a significant role in their growth.

Moisture is essential for bacteria because they need water to carry out cellular processes. Without sufficient moisture, bacterial cells cannot reproduce or metabolize nutrients effectively. Temperature also is a key factor since certain bacteria thrive at specific temperature ranges, typically between 41°F and 135°F, known as the "danger zone," where foodborne pathogens can multiply rapidly. Lastly, time is crucial as it refers to the duration that food is kept within the danger zone; the longer food is exposed to these conditions, the more likely bacterial growth will occur.

Exposure to sunlight, while it may have some antimicrobial effects on certain bacteria due to ultraviolet light, does not inherently facilitate the growth of bacteria in the same way that moisture, temperature, and time do. Therefore, it is the least relevant factor among the options provided when discussing conditions necessary for bacterial growth in food safety contexts.