New York City Food Protection Practice Test

How do viruses reproduce in relation to food?

1. They reproduce inside the food

2. They use food as a means to enter the body

3. They kill bacteria in food

4. They replicate inside bacteria in food

The correct answer is: They use food as a means to enter the body

Viruses are unique in their method of reproduction and do not reproduce in the same way that living organisms, such as bacteria or fungi, do. Instead, they require a host to replicate. When it comes to food, viruses utilize food as a vehicle to enter the human body, rather than multiplying within the food itself. This process occurs when food becomes contaminated with viruses, such as norovirus or hepatitis A. Once a person consumes the contaminated food, the virus enters the digestive system, where it can then hijack the host's cellular machinery to reproduce. The viral replication happens within the human cells, not in the food itself. The other options do not accurately represent the behavior of viruses. They do not reproduce inside food; instead, they rely on food for transmission. They do not actively kill bacteria in food, nor do they replicate within bacteria. Instead, their relationship with food is primarily one of contamination leading to infection, emphasizing the importance of food safety practices to prevent viral outbreaks.