Michigan Food Safety Management Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of hazard in food safety?

1. Biological

2. Chemical

3. Financial

4. Physical

The correct answer is: Financial

In the context of food safety, hazards are classified primarily into three types: biological, chemical, and physical. Biological hazards include microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can contaminate food and cause illness. Chemical hazards refer to harmful substances that may enter food, whether naturally occurring, like toxins in certain plants or animals, or those introduced during food processing, such as pesticides or cleaning agents. Physical hazards are objects or materials that can inadvertently get into food, such as fragments of glass, metal, or plastic. Financial hazards, on the other hand, do not fit into these categories. While financial issues can impact a food business's operations and sustainability, they do not directly influence food safety from a public health perspective. Since financial matters do not affect the safety or quality of food in terms of contamination or potential harm to consumers, this makes them distinct from the recognized categories of hazards in food safety.