How does food get contaminated?
Food contamination can occur in the following ways: • Natural bacteria found in food are allowed to grow to harmful levels. This can happen when food is cooked or stored at the wrong temperature. • The cooking area is not kept clean. For example, when insects or rodents get into the kitchen area. • The cooking utensils are not cleaned properly. For example, a board used to cut raw meat is then used for foods eaten raw. This is called cross-contamination. Bacteria may also grow on wet, contaminated cloths and sponges (water may get rid of dirt you can see, but not bacteria). • Cooks or servers contaminate food as it is being cooked, prepared or served. This can happen when hands are not adequately washed, there are sores on the hands, or food handlers sneeze or cough into the food.
