Quiz – Keeping Bacteria Off The Menu

Summer picnics—they’re all fun and games until someone gets sick. Foodborne illness, most commonly referred to as food poisoning, seems to happen more often during the summer, when scrumptious macaroni salads and other such foods are left out all afternoon at the family barbecue. But contamination of food can actually happen at any time during its journey from farm to table. Luckily for us, there are steps we can take to prevent foodborne illness from spoiling our day. Take our quiz to learn more:

1. Millions of Americans get food poisoning each year and anyone can be at risk.
 
     A. True
     B. False
 
2. All meals made from the following foods can cause food poisoning EXCEPT:
 
     A. Unpasteurized milk
     B. Raw eggs
     C. Washed fresh fruit
     D. Undercooked meat
 
3. Which of the following bacteria can cause a rare but deadly form of food poisoning?
 
     A. Salmonella
     B. B. Listeria
     C. E. coli
     D.  Clostridium botulinum
 
4. Symptoms of food poisoning always come on slowly, after a long digestion period.
 
     A. True
     B. False

5. People can help prevent food poisoning by ____.

     A. Washing their hands after touching raw meat, seafood, poultry, or eggs, and before touching other foods
     B. Refrigerating mayonnaise, salad dressings, and any meals that contain them
     C. Cleaning counter tops, kitchen tools, and cutting boards after each use
     D. Making sure poultry, beef, and eggs are fully cooked before eating
     E.  All of the above

Answers:

1. A. True. Anyone can get food poisoning, but those with weaker immune systems are at a greater risk. These people include young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic disease.

2. C. Wash all fruits and vegetables well before eating, and throw away any food that looks or smells like it could be going bad. Store your prepared foods away from any raw foods like uncooked meat or eggs.

3. D. Clostridium botulinum can cause botulism, an illness that is rare but potentially fatal. People are at risk for botulism if they eat low-acid foods (including meat, fish, poultry, or vegetables) that are not properly canned or preserved at home.  Infants could also develop botulism from eating raw honey or corn syrup, so anyone under the age of 1 should never have these foods.

4. B. False. Symptoms of most foodborne illnesses happen very fast. They may start a few hours after you eat the contaminated food. However, the Salmonella bacteria may take a day or so to result in symptoms.

5. E. All of the above. Washing your hands even when you’re not in the kitchen will also help prevent food poisoning and the spread of germs. People should wash their hands every time they use the bathroom, blow their nose, or cough or sneeze.
 
Source: The Health Library