Question

how does food become contaminated?
adapted from centers for disease control, food - borne illness, faqs
we live in a microbial world, and there are many opportunities for food to become contaminated as it is produced and prepared. many food - borne microbes are present in healthy animals (usually in their intestines) raised for food. meat and poultry carcasses can become contaminated during slaughter by contact with small amounts of intestinal contents. similarly, fresh fruits and vegetables can be contaminated if they are washed or irrigated with water that is contaminated with animal manure or human sewage. some types of salmonella can infect a hens ovary so that the internal contents of a normal looking egg can be contaminated even before the shell is formed.
which best expresses the main idea of this passage?
a food contamination is caused by microbial infection.
b refrigerating food can have avoid food contamination.
c foods can become contaminated in many different ways.
d cooking food thoroughly can help prevent contamination.

Explanation:

The passage describes multiple ways food can be contaminated: during meat/poultry slaughter, via contaminated water for fruits/vegetables, and through infected hen ovaries for eggs. Option A only focuses on microbial infection (one aspect), B and D discuss prevention (not the main idea of how contamination occurs), while C accurately captures that food can become contaminated in many different ways, matching the passage's content.

Answer:

C. Foods can become contaminated in many different ways.