Your family has the tradition of leaving the Thanksgiving turkey on the dinner table for everyone to snack on as they please in the evening after the big mid-day meal has been finished. This year several family members wake up the next day with vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Which foodborne contaminant was the most likely culprit?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Symptoms of vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea are commonly associated with a bacterial infection, such as Salmonella. Leaving poultry out at room temperature for an extended time can promote the growth of Salmonella bacteria, making it the most likely culprit in this scenario. Clostridium botulinum is a rare but potentially deadly spore-forming bacteria that can grow in improperly canned foods. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli typically causes symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, and Giardia lamblia is a parasite that is usually contracted by drinking contaminated water.

Your Family Has the Tradition of Leaving the Thanksgiving Turkey