According to ServSafe, physical contaminants of food are foreign objects in food that are not meant to be there. These objects can pose a health hazard to consumers if ingested. Some common examples of physical contaminants in food include:
- Hair: strands of human or animal hair can end up in food due to inadequate hair coverage or grooming practices by food handlers.
- Glass: small pieces of broken glass can end up in food due to broken equipment or containers.
- Metal: small pieces of metal can end up in food due to worn or damaged equipment.
- Plastic: small pieces of plastic can end up in food due to broken or damaged containers or utensils.
- Stones and rocks: these can end up in food due to poor quality control during growing, harvesting, and processing.
- Pest debris: droppings, dead insects, and other debris from pests that have contaminated food products.
Food establishments need to have proper controls in place to prevent physical contamination of food, such as regular inspections and maintenance of equipment, adequate training of food handlers, and implementing food safety practices to minimize the risk of contamination.
