Question

5 outs. She packs one for her lunch almost every day. A co-worker sees Saanvi enjoying her lunch and asks her if she cooked the sprouts before assembling her pita. Since Saanvi’s lunch is designed to be eaten cold, she is confused. Which BEST explains the reason for her co-worker’s inquiry? A. The co-worker has mistaken the sprouts for iceberg lettuce. B. The sprouts might smell rancid if they are not cooked first. C. The sprouts may have invisible pathogens on them. D. Cooking the sprouts will change their taste and texture.

Answer 1

The co-worker was likely concerned about potential invisible pathogens on raw sprouts, as cooking them would eliminate such bacteria and decrease the risk of foodborne illness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asked is concerned with the reason behind a co-worker's inquiry about whether Saanvi cooked the sprouts before adding them to her pita. The best explanation for the co-worker's concern is that raw sprouts may carry invisible pathogens, including bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli, which can cause foodborne illnesses. This is supported by information on recent foodborne illness outbreaks, where even organic produce like vegetable sprouts have been implicated. In 2010, Germany experienced a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to sprouts, highlighting the continuous evolution of these bacteria and the risk they pose in raw foods. In light of these concerns, cooking sprouts can help eliminate these pathogens, making the consumption of sprouts safer.

Answer 2

D. Cooking the sprouts will change their taste and texture.

Step-by-step explanation: