An intoxication (like Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning) differs from an infection because:
a.The bacteria must keep multiplying inside the body before any symptoms appear
b.Handwashing cannot stop it, since the toxin is made in the pan while the food is being cooked
c.It is caused only by viruses such as Norovirus, which make their own toxin in the food
d.The illness is caused by a toxin already present in the food, so symptoms come on quickly
Explanation
In an intoxication the person swallows a toxin that was already formed in the food, for example by Staphylococcus aureus after bare-hand contact and time-temperature abuse, so symptoms can appear within a few hours. Multiplying inside the body is what defines an infection, not an intoxication. Handwashing and no bare-hand contact do prevent Staph intoxication, the toxin builds up in the food during temperature abuse rather than during cooking, and viruses are not the cause of a Staph intoxication.
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