cross-contamination
Spreading between sources
Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful substances—usually bacteria or allergens—from one surface, food, or object to another.
The term appears most often in food safety contexts: Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination.
It extends to any situation where unwanted material spreads between samples or environments: The lab results were compromised by cross-contamination.
Cleaning to remove pathogens
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- handwashingCleaning palms with soap
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
proper storage · temperature control · cleaning protocols · barriers · PPE · hygiene practices · sanitizer · antiseptic
Animal tissue, unheated
- cutting boardsKitchen prep surfaces
- salmonellaFoodborne bacterial illness
- listeriaFoodborne bacterial infection
- kitchen hygieneSanitary cooking area practices
utensils · food handling · chopping block · prep area · food storage · refrigeration · cookware · buffet
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- germsMicroscopic disease agents
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
transmission · pathogens · vectors · fomites · outbreak · contagion · host · spores
U.S. health regulator
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- food safety standardsRegulations ensuring consumables aren't harmful
auditing · recall · traceability · documentation · labeling · health codes · sanitarian · enforcement
Representative items for examination
- samplesSmall test portions
- pipettesLiquid-measuring lab tubes
- reagentsSubstances for chemical analysis
- false positiveIncorrect presence indication
assay · sterile technique · PCR · cultures · petri dishes · centrifuge · gloves · lab bench
Edible underground legumes
- glutenCereal grain protein
- shellfishAquatic creatures with exoskeletons
- tree nutsEdible seeds from woody plants
- allergen labelingIdentifying reactive substances on packaging
trace amounts · soy · dairy · sesame · egg · wheat · may contain · shared facilities
sanitization
Cleaning to remove pathogens
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- handwashingCleaning palms with soap
gloves · proper storage · temperature control · cleaning protocols · barriers · PPE · hygiene practices · sanitizer · antiseptic · protective measures
raw meat
Animal tissue, unheated
- cutting boardsKitchen prep surfaces
- salmonellaFoodborne bacterial illness
- listeriaFoodborne bacterial infection
kitchen hygiene · utensils · food handling · chopping block · prep area · food storage · refrigeration · cookware · buffet · tongs
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- germsMicroscopic disease agents
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
infection · transmission · pathogens · vectors · fomites · outbreak · contagion · host · spores · biofilm
FDA
U.S. health regulator
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- certificationAttestation of qualification
food safety standards · auditing · recall · traceability · documentation · labeling · health codes · sanitarian · enforcement · guidelines
specimens
Representative items for examination
- samplesSmall test portions
- pipettesLiquid-measuring lab tubes
- reagentsSubstances for chemical analysis
false positive · assay · sterile technique · PCR · cultures · petri dishes · centrifuge · gloves · lab bench · DNA
peanuts
Edible underground legumes
- glutenCereal grain protein
- shellfishAquatic creatures with exoskeletons
- tree nutsEdible seeds from woody plants
trace amounts · allergen labeling · soy · dairy · sesame · egg · wheat · may contain · shared facilities · ingredient lists
- Lab Safetysafety goggles, lab safety, lab coat, PPE, fume hood
- food safetyfood safety, food hygiene, food handling, food poisoning, sanitization
- germaphobiagerms, germaphobe, hygiene, cleanliness, sanitizer
- Restaurant Regulationshealth codes, food safety, permits, licenses, inspections
- Unwanted Transferstain, smudge, smear, spillage, leakage
- Food Microbiologybacterial growth, microbial growth, spoilage, pathogens, pathogen
cross-contaminationisolation
Complete separation from others
containment · purity · uncontaminated · segregation · separation
cross-contaminationsafe handling
Careful object manipulation
proper storage · sterile technique · barrier protection · decontamination · sanitization
cross, contaminated, crosswalk, contaminate, crossroad, contamination, crossbreed, contaminant, uncontaminated