Home-canned foods should be boiled before consumption to prevent botulism. Considering that this treatment does NOT destroy endospores, why would it be helpful in preventing the disease?
A) Because it would destroy the vegetative cells, and only the vegetative cells cause the disease.
B) Because it would at least weaken the endospores, making them more susceptible to elimination by our immune system.
C) Because the heat would denature the botulism endotoxin and inactivate it. The endotoxin is what leads to the disease symptoms, so this would make the food safer.
D) Because although botulism exotoxin is harmless, it has a bad odor and boiling removes this, making the food more appealing to eat.
E) Because the heat would denature the botulism exotoxin and inactivate it. The exotoxin is what leads to the disease symptoms, so this would make the food safer.

Question

Home-canned foods should be boiled before consumption to prevent botulism. Considering that this treatment does NOT destroy endospores, why would it be helpful in preventing the disease?
A) Because it would destroy the vegetative cells, and only the vegetative cells cause the disease.
B) Because it would at least weaken the endospores, making them more susceptible to elimination by our immune system.
C) Because the heat would denature the botulism endotoxin and inactivate it. The endotoxin is what leads to the disease symptoms, so this would make the food safer.
D) Because although botulism exotoxin is harmless, it has a bad odor and boiling removes this, making the food more appealing to eat.
E) Because the heat would denature the botulism exotoxin and inactivate it. The exotoxin is what leads to the disease symptoms, so this would make the food safer.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Boiling home-canned foods before consumption is helpful in preventing botulism because the heat would denature the botulism exotoxin and inactivate it. The exotoxin is what leads to the disease symptoms, so this would make the food safer. It does not necessarily destroy endospores, but it renders the exotoxin harmless.

Home-Canned Foods Should Be Boiled Before Consumption to Prevent Botulism