What Causes Food Contamination?

With all the reports of tainted food in our grocery stores, it's no wonder people are becoming more concerned about the topic. Food-related illnesses have changed in the last hundred years. Due to sterilization of water supplies and pasteurizing of milk, things like cholera and typhoid fevers are rarely linked to any food contamination. But bacteria and illness can spread from the transporting of foods. New microbic strains of food-related illness are evolving and becoming antibiotic resistant. It is important to learn what causes food contamination and how to avoid it.

Slaughter

• When healthy animals are slaughtered for food, there are bacterial microbes in their intestinal track. During the processing of these animals, the carcass can become contaminated by small amounts of these microbes.

Watering

• Fruits and vegetables can become contaminated by unclean water during irrigation. The water can contain raw human sewage or animal manure.

Handling

• People who handle fruits and vegetables can spread infection, if they are sick themselves. They can easily spread food-related disease by just touching the food.

Utensils

• Using the same utensil in the kitchen can spread food-related illness. If you use a knife to cut meat and then cut fruits and vegetables, it can contaminate the food.

Warm Conditions

• Leaving foods out for a long period of time can cause contamination. Bacteria multiplies in these conditions. Foods should always be refrigerated, after a meal.

Raw Foods

• Heat kills most bacteria related to food contamination. Even fruits and vegetables are less likely to cause illness if they are cooked thoroughly.