Michigan Food Safety Management Practice Test

What causes a bacterial foodborne infection?

1. Eating food contaminated by toxins

2. Consuming food with living pathogens that do not multiply

3. Eating food contaminated by pathogens that multiply inside the body

4. Drinking beverages that are stored improperly

The correct answer is: Eating food contaminated by pathogens that multiply inside the body

A bacterial foodborne infection is caused specifically by consuming food that has been contaminated with living pathogens, such as bacteria, which then multiply and cause illness within the human body. This means that when these pathogens are ingested, they can grow and reproduce inside the gastrointestinal tract, leading to an infection. This is distinct from foodborne intoxication, where one might consume food contaminated with toxins that have already been produced by bacteria before the food is eaten. In the context of this question, the emphasis is on pathogens that actually multiply inside the body, rather than just being present in the food without causing an infection. Other options involve scenarios where contamination occurs, but they either refer to toxins produced by bacteria outside the body or do not involve living pathogens that play a role in causing an infection. Therefore, the key characteristic of option C aligns perfectly with how a bacterial foodborne infection develops.