When is an outbreak defined as in foodborne illness terms?

• A. When one person appears ill after eating outdated food
• B. When two or more people have symptoms after eating the same food
• C. When food is contaminated during preparation
• D. When a disease is found in a single person

Answer: (B)

In foodborne illness terms, an outbreak is identified when two or more people become ill after eating the same food, creating a pattern that points to a common source. This threshold helps health authorities recognize or rule in a real contamination event that requires investigation and action. So the best choice is the one describing multiple people with similar symptoms after consuming the same food, since it matches the practical definition of an outbreak. A single case, or illness tied to mere preparation, doesn’t meet the outbreak criteria, and a disease in one person isn’t considered an outbreak.