Question

A food worker cleans the inside of a pizza oven using a steel wire brush. After the oven is clean, it is set to 500 degrees to cool the pizza. What potential food hazard should the food worker consider?

Answer 1

The food worker should consider the risk of physical contamination from the steel wire brush and chemical residues from cleaning products when cleaning a pizza oven and cooking at high temperatures. Ensuring the food reaches the proper temperature to kill bacteria is also crucial for food safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a food worker cleans the inside of a pizza oven with a steel wire brush and sets it to 500 degrees to cook the pizza, the potential food hazard to consider is the presence of physical contaminants. Small pieces of metal from the wire brush could break off and remain in the oven, potentially contaminating the food. Moreover, there's a risk that chemical residue from any cleaners used in the cleaning process could remain in the oven and transfer onto the pizza when exposed to high temperatures.

It's also critical the oven reaches a high enough temperature to kill bacteria and ensure food safety. Using a thermometer is recommended to confirm that food has reached the appropriate temperatures as set out in food and drink application guidelines for cooking temperatures.

Answer 2

The wire brush used for cleaning the oven may likely to leave the wire particles which may contaminate the pizza. The wire particles will remain undigested in the food and if sharp enough will peirce the organs of the digestive system.