Which term describes illness caused by ingesting microbial toxins produced in food, potentially with no live microbes present?

• A. Food poisoning
• B. Foodborne illness
• C. Food intoxication
• D. Food infection

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is toxin-mediated illness versus infection. Illness caused by toxins produced in food is called food intoxication. The crucial point is that the harm comes from a toxin formed in the food, not from live bacteria that you ingest. You can become sick even when no live microbes are present in the food because the toxin itself is what triggers the symptoms.

This differs from a food infection, where illness results from ingesting live microbes that then multiply in the gastrointestinal tract and cause symptoms. Foodborne illness is the broader umbrella term that covers both toxin-mediated intoxications and infections, but the specific term for illness caused by preformed toxins in food is food intoxication. For example, certain bacteria can produce toxins in improperly stored foods that cause rapid vomiting, even if the bacteria are no longer alive in the food.