Starbucks Food Safety Practice Exam

Where is Trichinella spiralis typically found?

1. In raw seafood

2. In undercooked beef

3. In undercooked pork

4. In fresh produce

The correct answer is: In undercooked pork

Trichinella spiralis is a parasitic roundworm that is known to cause the disease trichinosis in humans, primarily through the consumption of undercooked pork. The larvae of this worm can encyst in the muscle tissue of pigs, and when humans consume meat that contains these encysted larvae, they can become infected. This condition is particularly associated with pork because the lifecycle of Trichinella spiralis commonly involves pigs as the host, allowing the parasite to thrive and become transmissible through the consumption of improperly cooked pork products. Historically, outbreaks of trichinosis have often been linked to the ingestion of raw or undercooked pork, reinforcing the importance of cooking pork to safe internal temperatures to eliminate any potential presence of this parasite. In contrast, while some other foods may contain parasites or pathogens, Trichinella spiralis is specifically associated with undercooked pork, making this choice the most accurate regarding its typical habitat.