Final answer:
Food contamination refers to the presence of harmful chemicals and microorganisms in food. There are three types of contaminants that threaten food safety: biological, chemical, and physical.
Step-by-step explanation:
Food contamination refers to the presence of harmful chemicals and microorganisms in food, which can cause consumer illness. There are three types of contaminants that threaten food safety:
- Biological contaminants: These include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, and they pose the greatest danger to food safety. Examples include Salmonella, E. coli, and Norovirus.
- Chemical contaminants: These include harmful chemicals that can enter food through various sources, such as agrochemicals used in farming and environmental contaminants present in the food's surroundings.
- Physical contaminants: These include objects that can accidentally get into food, such as glass, metal, hair, or insects.