food contamination

Unsafe meal hazard

Food contamination is the presence of harmful substances in food—bacteria, viruses, chemicals, or foreign objects that make it unsafe to eat.

Contamination can occur at any stage from farm to table: during growing, processing, storage, or preparation.

The outbreak was traced to food contamination at a single processing plant.

Cross-contamination happens when pathogens spread from one food to another, typically from raw meat to ready-to-eat items.

Related

toxins · E. coli · fungi · bacteria · heavy metals · acrylamide · botulism · norovirus · wash your hands · melamine · parasites · glass shards · protozoa · insects · foodborne illness · viruses · allergens · undercooked

Categories
Opposites
safety status

food contaminationfood safety

Illness prevention through handling

food purity · safe food · food hygiene · sanitary conditions · pathogen-free

food handling process

food contaminationdecontamination

Removing dangerous substances

food sanitation · pasteurization · food hygiene · sanitization · disinfection

food quality state

food contaminationfood purity

Freedom from contamination

wholesomeness · food grade

Family

contaminate, contamination

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G