Final answer:
Food becomes unsafe mainly due to poor hygiene, cross-contamination, and failure in temperature control, leading to food contamination.
Step-by-step explanation:
When food becomes unsafe, it is most often due to improper handling, preparation, or storage, leading to food contamination. The three main ways food can become contaminated include:
- Poor hygiene, such as handling food with unwashed hands.
- Cross-contamination, often from unwashed utensils or cutting boards.
- Failure of temperature control, which can lead to the growth of pathogens.
Foodborne diseases are often the result of consuming foods contaminated with various pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites, and not merely eating food that has 'gone bad'.
Food Safety Practices:
- Regular handwashing to prevent the introduction of pathogens.
- Keeping kitchen surfaces and utensils clean to avoid cross-contamination.
- Maintaining correct refrigerator temperatures to inhibit the growth of harmful organisms.