How Contamination Happens

Contamination comes from a variety of places. Contaminants can cause foodborne illness or result in physical injury. They are found in the animals we use for food; the air, water, dirt. Contaminants occur naturally in some food such as bones in fish. Food can be contaminated on purpose but most food is contaminated accidently. 

There are some common ways food is contaminated. Food handlers who don’t wash their hands after using the restroom contaminate food and surfaces with feces from their fingers. Food handlers also pass contaminants through illness.