Which statement about viruses in food safety is true?

• A. Viruses are the primary cause of all food spoilage.
• B. Viruses are a leading cause of food-borne illness and can survive in the fridge and freezer.
• C. Viruses are always killed by freezing.
• D. Viruses are plants.

Answer: (B)

Viruses are a leading cause of foodborne illness and can survive in the fridge and freezer. This matters because, unlike spoilage organisms that break down food, viruses don’t multiply in food; they stay infectious if the contaminated food is eaten. Refrigeration slows the growth of bacteria but doesn’t reliably inactivate many viruses, and freezing can keep them viable so they can still cause illness once thawed. That’s why preventing contamination, practicing good hand hygiene, and cooking foods to safe temperatures are essential steps in food safety. It’s not true that viruses cause all food spoilage—spoilage is mainly due to bacteria, yeasts, and molds—and viruses are not plants; they are infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate.