Megan and her mother, Martha, went to an all-you-can-eat buffet for lunch. Megan
ID: 35129 • Letter: M
Question
Megan and her mother, Martha, went to an all-you-can-eat buffet for lunch. Megan are from the
salad bar, while her mother Martha sipped all natural herbal slimming tea she brought with her
and read the newspaper and chatted about it with her daughter. In the newspaper, Martha was
surprised to read a health story stating that a new published study showed that fiber supplements
did not reduce colon cancer risk in elderly men with a history of polyps. Megan wasnt very
interested in the article, so she took a trip to the salad bar to get a food source of dietary fiber.
Megan selected the following conventionally produced food and beverage items to consume:
mixed lettuce greens, diced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, canned beets, shredded cheese, grilled
chicken strips, crotons (from white bread), regular creamy ranch dressing, potato salad, side of
fried potato skins, and a diet soda. About 40mins after eating, Megan and her mother Martha
found themselves in the restaurants public bathroom. Megan was experiencing fluflike
symptoms, while Martha was feeling the effects of her herbal slimming tea.
1. Which of Megans foods listed below was most likely heat-treated to reduce food safety
concerns?
a. Croutons
b. Tomatoes
c. Lettuce greens
d. Cheese
e. Diet soda
2. Which of megans foods listed below was most likely modified atmosphere packaged?
a. Crotons
b. Canned beets
c. Lettuce greens
d. Cheese
e. Diet soda
3. Which of megans foods listed below poses the greatest risk for ingestion of the antural
toxicant solanine?
a. Potato skins
b. Canned beets
c. Cucumbers
d. Cheese
e. Diet soda
4. Which of megans foods listed below poses the greatest risk for botulism if improperly
processed?
a. Potato salad
b. Canned beets
c. Cucumbers
d. Cheese
e. Diet soda
5. Which of megans foods listed below most likely caused her to experience flulike
symptoms?
a. Potato salad
b. Canned beets
c. Cucumbers
d. Cheese
e. Diet soda
6. Which microbe most likely caused megans food poisoning and flulike symptoms?
a. Staphylococcus aureus
b. Trichinella spiralis
c. Clostridium perfringins
d. Campulobater jejuni
e. Salmonella
7. Which statement below would be false regarding possible chemical additives in the foods
that meganate?
a. The ranch dressing could contain starches, gums, and/ or gel
b. The diet soda could contain sucralose or aspartame
c. The cheese could have been packaged in a wrapper treated with sorbic acid
d. The bread used to make the croutons was probably vitamin and mineral enriched
e. The canned beets could have been treated with peroxide
8. The findings published in the newspaper regarding fiber and cancer should lead scientists
to come up with a lower DRI for dietary fiber
a. True
b. False
9. Megan chose a sustainable eating practice on this day
a. True
b. False
10. Marthas herbal slimming tea, because it is all natural, has no safety concerns
a. True
b. false
Explanation / Answer
Cheese: It may be conatminated with Brucell which causes brucellosis. Hence, proper heat treatment is recommended prior to consumption.
Lettuce greens: They are easily perishable and cannot tolerate harsh treatments. MAP is used to increase the shelf life of such foods, with pure oxygen, CO2, and nitrogen mixture used to pack the foods in a permeable packaging system.
Potato skins
Canned beets
Potato salad
Staphylococcus aureus
Canned beets could have been treated with peroxide