Foodborne outbreaks of brucellosis are most commonly associated with eating which item?

• A. Raw shellfish
• B. Imported cheese
• C. Contaminated potato salad
• D. Improperly cooked hamburger

Answer: (B)

Brucellosis is acquired most often when people eat dairy products made from milk from infected animals that have not been pasteurized. Brucella bacteria survive in unpasteurized milk and can contaminate cheese, especially soft or fresh varieties, including imported cheeses from regions where brucellosis is more common. Pasteurization kills Brucella, so properly pasteurized dairy is safe. The other foods listed are typically linked to different pathogens: raw shellfish with Vibrio or norovirus, potato salad with Salmonella or Staphylococcus aureus from handling, and undercooked hamburger with E. coli O157:H7 or Campylobacter. Therefore, imported cheese best fits as the source of brucellosis outbreaks.