Final answer:
The three types of foodborne illness caused by bacteria include infection, toxicoinfection, and intoxication, resulting from the consumption of foods contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or bacterial toxins.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three types of foodborne illness that bacteria can cause are generally classified into the categories of infection, toxicoinfection, and intoxication.
Infection occurs when a person consumes food containing pathogenic bacteria that then invade the gut and multiply, leading to symptoms such as Salmonella in undercooked poultry or Campylobacter in unpasteurized milk.
Toxicoinfection is a condition where the bacteria, after being ingested, produce toxins within the human digestive system, as is often seen with certain strains of E. coli in raw or undercooked hamburger.
Intoxication happens when food that contains pre-formed toxins is consumed, with the bacteria that produced the toxins not necessarily active or present, an example being Staphylococcus aureus in improperly stored deli meats.
Proper cooking and sanitation methods, such as thoroughly cooking meat and washing hands regularly, are crucial in preventing these bacterial illnesses. Notably, all types of food, including peanut butter and vegetables, have the potential to be contaminated with these harmful bacteria.