What Is the Definition of Food Contamination?

Food contamination occurs when food is not cooked properly or contaminants, such as bacteria or toxic pesticides, get onto food. Food contamination can happen at several different locations where food is bought and consumed---grocery stores, restaurants, delis and homes.

Environmental Contaminants

• These are chemicals that are present where the food is grown and processed. They can include contaminants from the air, water, and soil. Some examples are arsenic, mercury and nitrates.

Pesticides

• There are many pesticides used that are a danger to human health. Additionally, even though many pesticides are banned due to food safety regulations, some are still used illegally on food crops. These have been discovered during investigations by organizations such as Green Peace and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These banned pesticides include formaldehyde, and Lindane and Aldicarb.

Human Contamination

• Food contamination also occurs when human hair, skin, nails, or other materials are found in food. Food quality regulations require workers to cover their hair, but human material can still make its way into food. Hair is not digestible and should not be ingested.

Contaminants During Processing

• During heating and processing, some types of food can become contaminated. These contaminants that aren't present in raw material can become present during the cooking process. Some of these contaminants include histamine, amines, and nitrosamines.

Pathogenic Contaminants

• These food contaminants include bacteria like salmonella and e.coli. Besides the bacteria causing infections, other toxins can cause illnesses. Some of these toxins include Bacillus cereus and Kojic acid.