Which mechanism best describes fecal-oral transmission of a foodborne pathogen?

Pathogens in the air from coughing travel large distances and are inhaled, causing respiratory rather than gastrointestinal illness.

Transmission requires direct blood contact between two people and cannot occur from contaminated food or water, because gastrointestinal pathogens cannot survive outside the intestines.

Tiny amounts of fecal matter containing pathogens contaminate hands, surfaces, food or water and are then ingested by another person, causing infection.

Infections occur only when fecal material is intentionally consumed and cannot be transmitted by contaminated surfaces or poor hand hygiene after vomiting or diarrhea episodes.