Sanitation Certification Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of foodborne illness?

1. Swelling of mouth or throat

2. Fever

3. Nausea

4. Unexplained weight gain

The correct answer is: Unexplained weight gain

Unexplained weight gain is not a symptom typically associated with foodborne illness. Foodborne illnesses generally manifest with symptoms that signal the body’s response to infection or irritation in the digestive system, such as nausea, fever, and swelling in the mouth or throat due to allergic reactions or irritants. Weight gain usually results from excess calorie intake or hormonal changes rather than acute reactions to foodborne pathogens. Therefore, it doesn’t fit within the common symptom profile for foodborne illness, which focuses on immediate and often temporary reactions such as those related to digestive discomfort or systemic responses like fever.