Which statement correctly contrasts plant- and microbe-derived food toxins?

• A. Microbe-derived toxins are only a concern when organisms are still alive on food; once microbes are killed their toxins are always inactive and harmless, so microbial toxins are not a long-term concern.
• B. Plant toxins and microbe toxins are indistinguishable biologically and therefore require identical regulatory oversight, monitoring protocols, and cooking treatments to render foods safe.
• C. Plant-derived toxins are produced as part of plant metabolism (e.g., solanine, cyanogenic glycosides), while microbe-derived toxins are produced during microbial growth (e.g., staphylococcal toxins, botulinum toxin).
• D. Plant toxins such as solanine always require ingestion of roots to cause harm, whereas microbial toxins always require inhalation or dermal exposure to cause illness, not ingestion.

Answer: (C)