It’s no secret that food can get contaminated. But did you know that there are different ways in which food can become contaminated? That’s right, there are countless contaminants out there that could potentially get into food. This is, in part, why food packaging equipment needs to be so precise. Here are a few of the most common forms of food contamination that you need to be aware of.
Biological Contamination
Biological contamination includes almost everything under the sun. Bacteria and other toxins can enter food through bodily contact, dust, pets or pests, and even from a food handler’s clothing. This is most often the cause of food poisoning, as harmful bacteria can actually spoil food or make it poisonous to eat. Some bacteria, like salmonella, staphylococcus, and listeria, can be extremely harmful to humans. Seafood, cooked pasta, and dairy products are all considered extremely susceptible to these kinds of harmful bacteria.
Chemical Contamination
When food is exposed to chemicals such as those present in kitchen cleaning agents, pesticides, non-safe plastics, pest-control products, and cleaning agents used in heavy equipment cleaning. So the solution used to clean an x-ray food inspection machine could actually be harming the food being inspected. All of these chemical solutions could potentially contaminate food and lead to chemical poisoning if that food is ingested. This is one of the most important reasons why health experts recommend washing all of your produce before eating any of it. The chemicals used to protect it could actually end up harming you.
Physical Contamination
Physical contamination happens when and object makes its way into the food. Things such as bones, fingernails, hair, glass or metal, and even pests can make their way into food, contaminating it and potentially harming someone who consumes it. This is one of the most important reasons behind x-ray food inspections and food metal detectors. If there’s something in food that shouldn’t be there, these machines can find it and dispose of that food appropriately.
Food is an important part of life; it’s what keeps us alive. But if you’re not careful, your food could end up doing more harm than good.