Produce is a source of food borne illness due to all of the following except:

• A. Irradiation
• B. Pesticides
• C. Cross-contamination on surfaces
• D. Improper washing

Answer: (A)

Irradiation is a processing method that aims to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites on produce to reduce the risk of illness. It does not introduce pathogens or cause a foodborne illness; rather, it helps prevent illness, so it’s not a source of foodborne disease.

In contrast, cross-contamination on surfaces can transfer pathogens onto produce, and improper washing can leave or spread microbes that cause illness. Pesticide residues are chemical toxins rather than infectious agents, and while they can cause health problems with high exposure, they’re not the typical cause of foodborne illness in the sense of microbial infection or toxin production by microbes.