Food Contamination
and Foodborne Illness Prevention
Food becomes contaminated through a variety of mechanisms. Some things that can contribute to foodborne illness are:
- inadequate handwashing
- cross-contamination
- storage and cooking temperatures
- contamination of food by animal waste
Hand Washing
- Pathogens can be introduced into food from infected humans who handle the food without thoroughly washing their hands.
- These pathogens are thus transferred from trace amounts of fecal matter present on hands to the food.
- Hand Hygiene: Wash Your Hands!
Handwashing and Hand Hygiene information
Cross-Contamination
- Food and kitchen tools and surfaces may become contaminated from raw food products (i.e., meat and poultry).
- Microbes can be transferred from one food to another by using the same knife, cutting board or other utensil without washing the surface or utensil in between uses.
- A food that is fully cooked can become re-contaminated if it touches other raw foods or drippings from raw foods that contain pathogens.
- Prevent Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is the physical movement or transfer of harmful bacteria from one person, object or place to another.
Storage and Cooking Temperatures
- Many pathogens need to multiply to a larger number before enough are present in food to cause disease.
- In general, refrigeration or freezing prevents virtually all bacteria from growing.
- If food is heated sufficiently, parasites, viruses and most bacteria are killed.
- How Temperatures Affect Food
Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture. Attention: Non-MDH link
Contamination of Food by Animal Waste
Many foodborne microbes are present in healthy animals raised for food.
- Meat and poultry may become contaminated during slaughter by small amounts of intestinal contents.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables can be contaminated if they are washed with water that is contaminated by animal manure or human sewage.
Spotlight
Keeping Food Safe During Buffets or Picnics
Buffets or picnics can be a means to transmit disease among your guests if care is not taken in how the food is handled.
Preventing Illness Associated with Animal Contact
How to stay healthy around household pets, petting zoos and fairs.
Waterborne Illness
Waterborne illness is caused by recreational or drinking water contaminated by disease-causing microbes or pathogens. Of note, many waterborne pathogens can also be acquired by consuming contaminated food or beverages, from contact with animals or their environment, or through person-to-person spread.
There's No Such Thing as "Stomach Flu" (PDF)
Complaints of "stomach flu" are usually norovirus, the most common cause of gastrointestinal illness.
Food Safety Basics: Preventing Foodborne Illness
There's a lot you can do to handle and prepare your food safely. Learn what you can do to prepare, serve and store food safely.
If you have questions or comments about this page, please use our Food Safety Comment Form.
