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How Much Do You Really Know About Food Poisoning?

Learn why older adults are at greater risk of foodborne illness and more in this challenging true-or-false quiz

Aaron Kassraie,

AARP

En español

Published November 16, 2020

10 Questions

ab25f1b3-2fa7-42ff-9889-c1d59287653b

How Much Do You Really Know About Food Poisoning?

[ {
  "question" : "Taking stomach-acid reducers can make otherwise healthy older adults more susceptible to foodborne illnesses.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Acid in the stomach helps kill harmful germs found in foods, according to experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older adults, whose immune systems are already weakened by age, can increase their risk of food poisoning by taking acid reducers.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "You should always wash meat, including poultry, under cold running water before cooking to remove germs.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Washing meat can spread germs to other kitchen surfaces including the sink and countertops, where other foods may come into contact with them and become contaminated. Use a paper towel to clean and dry the outside of the meat. Cooking to recommended temperatures will kill any germs.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Salmonella infections, while serious, are very rare in the U.S. in the 21st century.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Salmonella bacteria is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, resulting in an estimated 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths annually in the U.S.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Most people have mild cases of food poisoning. Only children and pregnant women are at risk of severe illness.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "In addition to children under 5 and pregnant women, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems are at heightened risk of severe illness since the body's ability to fight off germs is lower in these groups.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "If you don't develop symptoms within an hour of eating contaminated food, you are in the clear.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "While some foodborne germs can cause illness within an hour, others can take much longer. Sickness from Salmonella, for example, can occur up to six days after exposure. The onset of symptoms caused by Listeria exposure can take up to four weeks.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Poultry, including chicken and turkey, should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees to ensure any germs present are killed.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Undercooking is one of the biggest risks posed by poultry, along with cross-contamination. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of chicken and turkey, including ground poultry, before consuming. Steaks, roasts and chops from beef, pork, veal or lamb should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees, but note a minimum of 160 degrees is needed for ground meats such as beef and pork.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The safest way to thaw frozen food is slowly at room temperature on the countertop.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature. The safest way to thaw frozen food is in the refrigerator, in cold water or in a microwave.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Nearly half of older adults who develop a lab-confirmed case of a foodborne illness caused by Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, or E. coli are hospitalized.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "As people age, their immune systems become less effective at recognizing and getting rid of harmful germs. Older adults are also more likely to have an underlying condition such as diabetes that further undermines the immune system.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "During the summer, when the temperature outside is 90 degrees or higher, it's safe to leave perishable food outside of the refrigerator or freezer for up to three hours.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "When the temperature outside is 90 degrees or higher, perishable foods should be left outside of the freezer or refrigerator for no more than an hour. When the temperature is below 90 degrees, it's safe to leave perishable foods out for up to two hours.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Now that all dairy products in the U.S. are pasteurized, it's perfectly safe to eat raw cookie dough.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "It's unsafe to eat any raw dough including cookie dough. Raw flour is not treated to kill germs and may be contaminated with Salmonella or E. coli. Raw or undercooked eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella. Cooking dough properly kills harmful germs.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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How Much Do You Really Know About Food Poisoning?

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Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English.