Final answer:
Food poisoning is particularly dangerous for the elderly and those with poor health due to their increased susceptibility to severe symptoms, which may be life-threatening and cause long-term health problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, can indeed be especially dangerous for elderly individuals or those with poor health. This is true because these groups, which also include pregnant women, young children, and people with weakened immune systems, are more susceptible to the severe effects of foodborne illnesses. Such illnesses are caused by the consumption of contaminated food that contains pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins.
When elderly or medically compromised individuals contract foodborne illnesses, they can experience severe symptoms that may require hospitalization or lead to long-term health problems or even death. Symptoms of foodborne diseases include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, which can be severe and life-threatening, leading to chronic health issues like arthritis, brain and nerve damage, or kidney failure in the form of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).