chapter 4 Flashcards
outbreak
the occurrence of two or more cases of a similar illness resulting from the ingestion of a common food
foodborne illness
an illness transmitted to humans by food
three types of food hazards
biological, chemical, physical
number one cause of foodborne illness
bacteria (over 90%)
pathogenic bacteria cause three types of illnesses
infection, intoxication/poisoning, toxin-mediated infection
food infections
an illness resulting from ingestion of food containing large numbers of living bacteria or other microorganisms
food intoxication/poisoning
an illness resulting from ingestion of food containing a toxin
toxin-mediated infection
an illness that occurs when bacteria enter the intestinal tract and then start to produce the toxin in the intestine
main bacteria that cause food infections via colonization in the intestinal tract
salmonella, listeria monocytogenes, yersinia enterocolitica, shigella
mycotoxin
a toxin produced by a mold which causes food intoxication
alfatoxin
a potent carcinogenic toxin made by the mold aspergillus flavus, often found in peanuts and grains
food born transmitted viruses transmitted via
oral-fecal route
two most common viruses to cause foodborne illnesses
hepatitus A and the norwalk virus
hepatitus a
occurs most frequently after food is contaminated with fecal matter; also polluted shellfish beds and vegetable fields
norwalk virus
stomach flu; spread via contaminated shellfish, food handlers, and water containing raw sewage
roundworms
parasitic infections that can result from eating undercooked pork or uncooked or undercooked fish
trichinella spiralis
contracted through the consumption of raw or improperly cooked pork, mostly sausage
candling
method of inspecting parasites which involves placing a fillet over a lighted translucent surface; finds only 60 to 70 percent of worms
protozoa
animals consisted of just one cell; most frequently infect humans through contaminated water
three types of protozoa related to food safety
giardia, cryptosporidium, cyclospora
giardia lamblia
protozoa responsible for the most common parasitic infection in the world; primarily transmitted through surface streams and lakes that have been contaminated with the feces of infected livestock or other animals
prions
an infection protein particle that does not contain DNA or RNA
transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)
a group of diseases that affect the brain, resulting in symptoms that range from loss of coordination to convulsions and ultimately death
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
mad cow disease; a type of TSE that riddles the brain with holes making it look like a sponge
culture (lab)
conventional method of confirming food contaminated by microorganisms; involves growing the organism in the lab (in a petri dish) until it can be identified visually or by additional tests; highly accurate, but can take many months
PulseNet
created by the CDC; a national network of food safety testing and regulatory agencies