Michigan Food Safety Management Practice Test

True or False: A toxin-mediated infection is caused by eating food contaminated by live pathogenic bacteria that produce toxins in the intestines.

1. True

2. False

3. Not enough information

4. Always results in hospitalization

The correct answer is: True

The statement is true because a toxin-mediated infection involves consuming food that contains live pathogenic bacteria, which then produce toxins in the intestines after ingestion. In this scenario, the illness occurs not merely because of the bacteria themselves but due to the toxins they release upon colonization in the intestinal tract. This type of infection often leads to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as the body reacts to the toxins. Toxin-mediated infections are distinct from other types of foodborne illnesses, such as those caused by pre-formed toxins or direct bacterial invasions that do not necessarily involve the production of toxins in the intestines. Thus, the essence of the statement reflects the accurate understanding of the mechanism behind toxin-mediated infections.