Final answer:
MALT effectively prevents ingested microbes from crossing the GI tract by using Peyer's patches and secreting IgA and other antibodies into the intestinal lumen, thereby providing an immune barrier.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the presence of Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) helps prevent ingested microbes from crossing the GI tract wall and entering the body is True. MALT includes structures such as Peyer's patches which are concentrated in the distal ileum. These patches contain immune cells that identify and respond to pathogens. M cells within the epithelium transport antigens to dendritic cells, which present them to immune cells in the Peyer's patches, initiating an immune response. Ultimately, MALT secretes IgA and other antibodies into the intestinal lumen, creating a barrier to prevent pathogens from entering the bloodstream.