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Food Contamination Issues

Food contamination consists of bacteria or other toxins that infect food and multiply. Food-borne illness is a term used to describe the result of eating contaminated foods. Eating foods that have been exposed to harmful bacteria can have serious health effects. People become violently ill with vomiting or diarrhea, and they may even die.

  1. Fecal Contamination

    • Mother Earth News cites fecal contamination as an issue that has been kept secret from public awareness. Cases of pathogenic outbreaks can be linked back to the environment animals live in. Salmonella and E. coli are harmful bacteria that infest the manure at factory farms. Animals like cows and chickens live among the mountains of feces in a closed factory farm house. The feces are transferred into human food supply because animals feed on corn and soybeans instead of grass. Their bodies become breeding grounds for E. coli and other harmful bacteria to grow. The result is contaminated eggs from the chickens and beef from the cattle.

    Cross-Contamination

    • For people with allergies, cross-contamination of food is a serious issue. Cross-contamination occurs when a clean food comes in contact with a food that is infected with E. coli or salmonella. For people with allergies, cross-contamination can occur when an accepted food comes in contact with a forbidden food. Kitchen knives cannot be used for cutting several different items of food. For example, if someone is allergic to peanuts, a knife that has just been used to spread peanut butter must be cleaned. Even the slightest bit of an allergenic food can cause a reaction to an allergy sufferer.

    Terrorist Threat

    • The World Health Organization warns that terrorism is a threat to food safety. In May 2002, the organization first acknowledged that food could be contaminated by terrorists, claiming that civilians could become sick from biological and chemical agents or radio nuclear materials placed in foods. Food sabotage is a vehicle terrorists could use to impact millions of people. The U.S. government established disease outbreak surveillance systems, investigation, precautionary measures and an emergency response system in case of a food contamination event.

    Prevention

    • Food-borne illnesses, or food poisoning, result from consuming contaminated food or drinks. Though bacteria and toxins are odorless and tasteless, food poisoning is preventable. To prevent food contamination, food should be stored properly in a dry, lukewarm location. Washing hands and fingernails before handling food will also prevent transfer of bacteria from one food to another. People who are sick with the common cold or flu symptoms should not handle food. Preparing food in a sanitary location is a safe way to prevent food contamination.

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