If a man contaminates mayonnaise with rat poison, what crime is he committing?

The correct answer is identified as tampering with a consumer product because contaminating mayonnaise with rat poison directly involves altering a product in a way that poses a significant risk to consumers. This act falls under laws designed to protect public safety by prohibiting the malicious contamination of food products. The act of adding harmful substances to food intended for consumption is considered a severe violation, as it can cause injury or even death to those who consume the product.

This crime is distinct from other options. Assault typically involves causing physical harm or the threat of harm to an individual, which is not the focus in this scenario. Endangerment can describe a reckless situation that puts someone at risk but does not specifically address the intentional act of harming food products. Product fraud generally refers to deceptive practices regarding the quality or nature of a product rather than direct harmful contamination. Thus, tampering with a consumer product specifically addresses both the intent to do harm and the means of executing that harm through the alteration of consumables.