Michigan Food Safety Management Practice Test

Which illness is caused by pathogenic microorganisms that multiply in the body after eating contaminated food?

1. Foodborne infection

2. Foodborne intoxication

3. Foodborne illness

4. Toxin-mediated infection

The correct answer is: Foodborne infection

The correct choice is foodborne infection, as this term specifically refers to illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms that enter the body through contaminated food and then multiply within the gastrointestinal tract or elsewhere in the body. This process can lead to a range of symptoms and health effects due to the growth and activity of these pathogens. Foodborne infections are often attributed to bacteria, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, or Listeria, that are ingested through improperly handled or undercooked food. Once inside the body, these pathogens reproduce and can compromise the host's health by overcoming the body's immune response and damaging tissues. Other options, such as foodborne intoxication, refer to illnesses caused by toxins that are preformed in food, which means the pathogens do not need to multiply inside the body to cause harm. Toxin-mediated infection is similar to foodborne infection, but it specifically refers to illnesses where bacteria produce toxins within the intestines after ingestion, leading to illness without the organisms multiplying significantly in the body. Foodborne illness is a broader term that encompasses both infections and intoxications, but in this context, the emphasis on pathogenic microorganisms multiplying highlights the specific definition given to foodborne infections.