Final answer:
A disease caused by contaminants like bacteria or viruses in food is known as a foodborne illness, commonly referred to as food poisoning. Symptoms often include gastrointestinal discomfort and can vary in severity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A disease caused by bacteria or viruses in food is known as a foodborne illness. Also colloquially referred to as food poisoning, this type of illness results from the consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Foodborne diseases can lead to a variety of symptoms, commonly including gastrointestinal issues such as abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. These diseases range in severity and can, in some cases, be fatal.
Bacteria, viruses, or parasites that cause foodborne illnesses might produce toxins either before they are ingested (preformed toxins) or after entering the human body. This is the difference between infection from organisms actively reproducing in the body and intoxication from ingesting the toxins they produce. Common bacterial causes include Norovirus and various bacteria genera with symptoms manifesting over varying incubation periods and requiring different infectious doses to cause illness.