Food poisoning is often the result of ingesting microbial toxins, not the microbes themselves.

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Microbial toxins are produced by certain types of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium botulinum, and can cause symptoms of food poisoning. Ingesting these toxins, rather than the actual bacteria, is often what leads to illness. However, there are also cases where consuming live bacteria, such as Salmonella or E. coli, can result in food poisoning.

Food Poisoning Is Often the Result of Ingesting Microbial Toxins