Michigan Food Safety Management Practice Test

Which of the following represent food contamination?

1. Bird feathers in a pecan pie.

2. Machine oil dripping on food.

3. Fragments of glass in fries.

4. All of them.

The correct answer is: All of them.

Food contamination refers to the presence of harmful substances or foreign materials in food that can pose risks to health and safety. Each of the examples provided illustrates a type of contamination that can significantly affect food safety. Bird feathers in a pecan pie represents biological contamination, as it involves foreign animal materials that can introduce pathogens or allergens. Machine oil dripping on food is a clear case of chemical contamination, where harmful substances from machinery can be ingested, leading to potential health risks. Fragments of glass in fries represent physical contamination, where sharp foreign objects can cause injury if ingested. Since each of these situations involves a distinct yet serious form of contamination that can compromise food safety, the correct answer indicates that all listed scenarios are indeed representations of food contamination. This emphasizes the importance of maintaining strict hygiene and safety standards in food handling to prevent various types of contamination.