6. ____ _____ can occur when plant foods are harvested and come in contact with the soil around

them.
a. Poor hygiene
b. Cross-contamination
c. Temperature abuse
d. Careless consumers

poor hygiene

b. Cross-contamination

The correct answer is b. Cross-contamination. Cross-contamination can occur when plant foods are harvested and come in contact with the soil around them. It is important to understand how cross-contamination happens and how to prevent it.

To answer this type of question, you can systematically eliminate the incorrect options and narrow down the choices.

Option a. Poor hygiene is not the correct answer because poor hygiene refers to the lack of cleanliness and proper sanitation practices, typically associated with food handlers or food preparation surfaces. It does not directly address the specific situation of plants coming in contact with soil during harvesting.

Option c. Temperature abuse is also not the correct answer for this question. Temperature abuse generally refers to improper temperature control during storage or preparation, which can result in foodborne illness. Again, this choice does not specifically address the situation described in the question.

Option d. Careless consumers do not directly relate to the scenario described in the question. Careless consumers may contribute to foodborne illnesses by mishandling or improperly preparing food, but they are not the cause for plant foods coming in contact with soil during harvesting.

Hence, the most appropriate answer is b. Cross-contamination, which refers to the transfer of harmful microorganisms from one surface or substance to another. In this case, it would occur when plant foods are harvested and come in contact with the soil around them.