Question

Erin C. is a 27-year-old professional woman who describes a recent bout of "the 24-hour flu" she experienced after eating out with friends over the weekend. She reports feeling an upset stomach at work on Monday with an increase in symptoms that developed into severe abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and some bloody diarrhea, continuing into the evening. She called her doctor the next morning and reported what she had eaten the day before she developed symptoms: Two glasses of wine, broiled rare steak with mushroom sauce, a baked potato with sour cream and butter, and an assorted greens salad with oil and vinegar dressing from the salad bar where she was dining with friends. Earlier on that same day, she had eaten leftovers from her refrigerator—a small pork chop, spinach salad, and a glass of milk from a local organic dairy farm.

1. What type of illness is Erin likely experiencing?

a. mercury poisoning

b. side effects from GMO food products

c. morning sickness

d. foodborne illness

e. the flu

2. Which food or beverage is least likely to have made Erin sick?

a. Two glasses of wine

b. Leftovers

c. Green salad from salad bar

d. Milk from a local dairy

e. Broiled rare steak

3. Erin's doctor believes she has a foodborne illness caused by E. coli. What type of foodborne illness does E. coli cause?

a. viral illness

b. parasitic infection

c. food intoxication

d. aflatoxins

e. foodborne infection

4. Which food is the likely source of the E. coli contamination that made Erin sick?

a. Spinach salad

b. Unpasteurized milk

c. Oil and vinegar dressing

d. Sour cream

e. Baked potato

5. Erin tells the doctor that she is 10 weeks pregnant, and she is concerned because she has heard that there is a foodborne illness that causes pregnancy complications. Which of the following is pathogens is she referring to?

a. Clostridium perfringens

b. Listeria

c. E.coli: O157:H7

d. Norovirus

e. Campylobacter

6. Erin got sick from Staphylococcus aureus two years ago. Which of the following foods is associated with Staphylococcus aureus?

a. Tuna salad

b. Contaminated water

c. Canned goods

d. Unpasteurized milk

e. Homemade garlic and oil mixtures

7. Assuming Erin's illness is caused by E. coli, what food safety practice would reduce her risk of getting E. coli again?

a. Decrease intake of fish.

b. Don't eat excessive amounts of broccoli or kohlrabi.

c. Cook hamburgers thoroughly.

d. Avoid using products with leaky seals.

e. Practice safe food canning.

8. While at the doctor, Erin asks about eating fish while she is pregnant. The doctor would most likely advise her to:

a. Choose canned albacore tuna up to three times per week.

b. Choose canned light tuna two to three times per week.

c. Eat fish every other day.

d. Choose orange roughy or swordfish that are safe.

e. Consume no fish while pregnant.

Answer 1

1. d. foodborne illness

Erin is experiencing foodborne illness

2. a. two glasses of wine

wine is least likely to make Erin sick

3. e. foodborne infection

E.coli is an emerging cause of foodborne illness.

4. b. unpasteurized milk

Unpasteurized milk is response for the foodborne infection

5. b. Listeria

Listeria infection during pregnancy can cause complications.

6. a. Tuna salad

Staphylococcus infections are caused due to Tuna salad

7. c. cook hamburgers thoroughly

E.coli infection is caused due to improperly cooked food

8. b. choose canned light tuna two to three times per week