Are heterotrophic organisims consumers or producers?

Heterotrophic organisms are consumers, as they cannot produce their own food and instead obtain energy by consuming other organisms, either plants (herbivores) or other animals (carnivores). Unlike producers, which are typically autotrophic and can create their own food through processes like photosynthesis, heterotrophs rely on the organic compounds created by producers. Examples of heterotrophs include animals, fungi, and many bacteria.