What is the main cause of food contamination?

Food and kitchen tools and surfaces may become contaminated from raw food products (i.e., meat and poultry). Microbes can be transferred from one food to another by using the same knife, cutting board or other utensil without washing the surface or utensil in between uses.
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What is the main cause of food contamination Servsafe?

Failing to cook food correctly. Holding food at incorrect temperatures. Using contaminated equipment. Practicing poor personal hygiene.
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What is the main cause of food contamination quizlet?

Five most common food-handling mistakes or risk factors that can cause foodborne illness are -Purchasing food from unsafe sources, failing to cook food correctly, holding food at incorrect temperatures, using contaminated equipment, and practicing poor personal hygiene.
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What are three main causes of contaminants?

The reasons for contamination can include:
  • poor waste management.
  • poor construction, industrial or agricultural practices.
  • illegal dumping or unsafe storage of harmful products.
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What are five 5 major causes of food contamination and foodborne illnesses?

The top five germs that cause illnesses from food eaten in the United States are:
  • Norovirus.
  • Salmonella.
  • Clostridium perfringens.
  • Campylobacter.
  • Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)
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Sources of Contamination of Food



What are the causes of food contamination and food spoilage?

Various factors cause food spoilage, making items unsuitable for consumption. Light, oxygen, heat, humidity, temperature and spoilage bacteria can all affect both safety and quality of perishable foods.
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What are the main sources of contamination in a kitchen?

There are three ways of cross-contamination in the kitchen:
  • Food-to-food, e.g., raw meat touches cooked meat in storage.
  • People-to-food, e.g., food handler handles raw meat and then touches cooked meat with the same hands without proper hand washing.
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What is contamination of food?

Food contamination is generally defined as foods that are spoiled or tainted because they either contain microorganisms, such as bacteria or parasites, or toxic substances that make them unfit for consumption. A food contaminant can be biological, chemical or physical in nature, with the former being more common.
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What is the main cause of cross contamination quizlet?

Poor personal hygiene, contact with contaminated surfaces, and contamination from consumers.
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What is the primary source of food contamination and disease field sanitation?

Serving food.

The condition of the dining facility and its staff can be primary sources of food contamination and disease.
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What is the main cause of food contamination not washing hands between tasks?

The main reason for not touching ready-to-eat foods with bare hands is to prevent viruses and bacteria which are present in your body from contaminating the food.
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Which is a biological contaminant?

Biological contaminants include bacteria, molds, mildew, viruses, animal dander and cat saliva, house dust, mites, cockroaches, and pollen (see more about Asthma triggers at www.epa.gov/asthma).
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Which is a potential source of contamination when serving off site?

At the serving step in the flow of food, foods are at highest risk for cross-contamination. Staff must understand how to handle foods correctly and safely in the kitchen, dining room, self-service areas (buffets), off-site locations (catering), and when using/stocking/maintaining vending machines.
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Which of these are most likely to be cause of cross-contamination in food?

Bacterial cross-contamination is most likely to happen when raw food touches or drips onto ready-to-eat food, utensils or surfaces.
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What is cross-contamination in food quizlet?

Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful bacteria to food from other foods, cutting boards, utensils, etc., if they are not handled properly. This is especially true when handling raw meat, poultry, and seafood, so keep these foods and their juices away from already cooked or ready-to-eat foods and fresh produce.
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What is a type of contaminant that can cause foodborne illness quizlet?

Types of foodborne illness. Pathogens, toxins, bacteria, parasites, viruses.
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What are the 4 main types of food contamination?

There are four main types of contamination: chemical, microbial, physical, and allergenic. All food is at risk of contamination from these four types. This is why food handlers have a legal responsibility to ensure that the food they prepare is free from these contaminants and safe for the consumer.
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What are 5 ways food can be contaminated?

Main routes to contamination

There are four main routes to food contamination: cross-contamination, improper hand washing, inappropriate storage and temperatures, and contamination by animal waste.
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What are 3 types of food contamination?

Most food safety hazards that cause food contamination fall into one of three categories: biological, physical or chemical contamination. It's important to understand what the potential hazards are when it comes to food, especially if you are preparing or serving food for someone else.
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What are the three main causes of food spoilage?

The three major types of microorganisms which cause food spoilage are bacteria, yeasts and moulds.
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How can we prevent food contamination?

When preparing food:
  1. Wash hands and surfaces often. ...
  2. Wash hands with soap and hot water before and after handling food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers; or handling pets.
  3. Use hot, soapy water and paper towels or clean cloths to wipe up kitchen surfaces or spills.
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What activities prevent food contamination?

The easiest way to prevent cross contamination is by properly washing hands before cooking and in between tasks and by keeping raw foods and ready to eat foods separated. Use separate equipment for each type of food.
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What is the biggest food safety risk when a food handler?

If not handled properly, raw and undercooked poultry (i.e. chicken and duck) have an extremely high contamination risk. The most common risks for these types of foods are salmonella and campylobacter bacteria. These bacteria are often present in the raw meat until cooking kills them off.
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What are physical food contaminants?

Physical contamination refers to food that has been contaminated by a foreign object at some stage of the production process. These objects have the ability to injure someone and can also potentially carry harmful biological contaminants, which then cause illness.
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What causes biological contamination?

Biological contaminants include bacteria, viruses, animal dander and cat saliva, house dust, mites, cockroaches, and pollen. There are many sources of these pollutants. By controlling the relative humidity level in a home, the growth of some sources of biologicals can be minimized.
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