Give the four major causes of food poisoning.

• A. Not cooking properly, not keeping temperature, cross contamination, poor hygiene
• B. Not cooking properly, not keeping temperature, low moisture, poor hygiene
• C. Not cooking properly, keeping foods at wrong temperatures, cross contamination, spicy ingredients
• D. Not cooking properly, not keeping temperature, contaminated equipment, poor hygiene

Answer: (A)

Food poisoning is most often caused by conditions that let harmful bacteria grow or be transferred to ready-to-eat foods. The four main factors are: not cooking properly, not keeping foods at safe temperatures, cross-contamination, and poor hygiene. Not cooking properly means foods, especially meats and eggs, may not reach temperatures that kill bacteria. Not keeping temperatures means hot foods aren’t kept hot and cold foods aren’t kept cold, allowing bacteria to multiply in the danger zone. Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria move from raw foods or contaminated surfaces, utensils, or hands to foods that won’t be cooked again or are eaten raw. Poor hygiene covers not washing hands, dirty utensils, and unclean surfaces or storage areas, which introduce and spread bacteria. The other options include factors that aren’t recognized as major causes—low moisture and spicy ingredients aren’t primary drivers, and while contaminated equipment can contribute, it’s part of cross-contamination rather than a separate main cause.