Which aerobic, gram-positive, sporulating rods can cause food poisoning?

Bacillus cereus is known for its association with food poisoning, specifically due to its ability to produce toxins that can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses. This bacterium is a gram-positive, aerobic, and sporulating rod that can thrive in various food products, particularly rice and pasta. There are two primary types of foodborne illnesses linked to Bacillus cereus: one resulting from the consumption of pre-formed toxins (often in fried rice) and the other from spores that germinate and produce toxins in the intestine after ingestion.

While Bacillus subtilis is also a gram-positive, sporulating rod, it is not typically associated with foodborne illness in the same way Bacillus cereus is. Mycobacterium phlei and Clostridium ramosum are not relevant to food poisoning; Mycobacterium is primarily known for its role in tuberculosis and related diseases, while Clostridium species tend to be associated with other types of infections and not specifically foodborne illnesses caused by toxins in the context mentioned. Therefore, Bacillus cereus stands out as the primary organism linked with food poisoning, which is why it is the correct choice.