Final answer:
Food becomes contaminated through poor hygiene, cross-contamination, and failure of temperature control. To prevent foodborne diseases, good food safety practices like handwashing, safe temperature maintenance, and avoiding cross-contamination are vital.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main ways that food becomes contaminated include poor hygiene, cross-contamination, and failure of temperature control. Poor hygiene can lead to the spread of pathogens such as norovirus, which is highly infective and can contaminate food when handlers do not wash their hands properly. Cross-contamination often occurs when pathogens from uncooked foods, such as raw meat, transfer to other foods that will not be cooked further. Failure to properly control temperature can lead to bacterial growth, as some bacteria can rapidly multiply to dangerous levels at certain temperatures.
To help prevent transmission of foodborne diseases in home environments, the practice of good food safety is crucial. This includes frequent and proper handwashing, ensuring that food is cooked to and maintained at safe temperatures to prevent bacterial growth, and avoiding cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards and utensils for different types of food, such as raw meats and vegetables.