What is one major consequence of poor food safety practices?

One significant consequence of poor food safety practices is the outbreak of foodborne illnesses. When proper food handling procedures are not followed, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens can contaminate food and beverages. This can lead to severe health risks for customers, resulting in sickness and sometimes hospitalization. Foodborne illness outbreaks can severely damage a business's reputation, lead to legal issues, and incur substantial costs related to recalls and medical treatment. Such outbreaks highlight the critical importance of maintaining high standards of food safety to protect both consumers and the establishment itself.

The other options, which suggest benefits such as increased customer satisfaction, improved food quality, or declining costs, do not accurately reflect the potential consequences of neglecting food safety practices. In fact, the opposite is true; poor food safety practices typically result in decreased customer satisfaction, compromised food quality, and can lead to higher costs due to illness and reputational damage.