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Understanding Food Safety Hazards

Understanding Food Safety Hazards. Blog that explains what the hazards are and more.

Food safety hazards are agents in food that can cause harm, injury, or illness when consumed. They encompass a broad range of biological, chemical, and physical threats introduced at any stage (from farm to fork). Identifying and controlling these hazards is essential to protect public health and maintain consumer confidence.


Food safety hazards fall into three main categories:

  • Biological (microorganisms and toxins)

  • Chemical (contaminants, natural toxins, allergens)

  • Physical (foreign objects)

Biological Hazards

Biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungal toxins capable of causing foodborne illness. They often emerge from improper handling, temperature abuse, or poor sanitation.


Bacterial Pathogens

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Bacillus cereus

Biological

Spore-forming bacteria; causes vomiting or diarrheal illness

Rice, pasta, dairy

Rapid cooling of cooked foods; strict time/temperature control

Cooked rice held at room temperature

Campylobacter jejuni

Biological

Microaerophilic bacteria causing campylobacteriosis

Poultry, raw milk

Thorough cooking; pasteurization of dairy

Undercooked chicken

Clostridium botulinum

Biological

Anaerobic spore-forming bacteria producing neurotoxin

Home-canned vegetables, fish

Proper canning (pressure, pH control); acidity monitoring

Home-canned green beans without adequate pressure

Clostridium perfringens

Biological

Spore-forming bacteria; rapid-onset gastroenteritis

Meat, gravies

Hold hot foods > 60 °C; cool large batches quickly

Large stew left in warming trays

Escherichia coli O157:H7

Biological

Shiga-toxin–producing E. coli; causes severe hemorrhagic diarrhea

Undercooked beef, leafy greens

Proper cooking; wash produce thoroughly

Contaminated lettuce shipment

Listeria monocytogenes

Biological

Intracellular bacteria causing listeriosis; high risk in pregnant and immunocompromised groups

Deli meats, soft cheeses

Refrigeration < 4 °C; rigorous sanitation of lines

Ice cream plant with poor drain cleaning

Salmonella

Biological

Common non-spore–forming bacteria leading to salmonellosis

Eggs, poultry, produce

Cook poultry to 74 °C; wash fruits/vegetables

Peanut butter processing equipment harboring Salmonella

Shigella

Biological

Bacteria causing bacillary dysentery

Salads, contaminated water

Employee hygiene (handwashing); water treatment

Food handler with poor hand hygiene

Staphylococcus aureus

Biological

Bacteria producing heat-stable enterotoxins

Dairy, deli salads, pastries

Exclude sick workers; rapid cooling; personal hygiene

Cream-filled pastries stored at room temp

Viral Pathogens

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Norovirus

Biological

Highly contagious virus causing acute gastroenteritis

Shellfish, ready-to-eat

Strict handwashing; exclude symptomatic staff

Infected caterer contaminating salad

Hepatitis A

Biological

Virus causing liver inflammation; long incubation

Shellfish, produce

Vaccination of staff; hand hygiene

Berries rinsed in contaminated water

Rotavirus

Biological

Leading cause of childhood diarrhea

Water, dairy products

Vaccination; excluded if sick; sanitize surfaces

Day-care outbreak via unfiltered water

Parasitic Organisms

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Cryptosporidium parvum

Biological

Protozoan parasite causing cryptosporidiosis

Untreated water, produce

Water filtration: wash produce

Municipal water breach

Cyclospora cayetanensis

Biological

Protozoan parasite causing cyclosporiasis

Berries, basil

Thorough rinsing: supplier audits

Imported raspberries linked to recall

Trichinella spiralis

Biological

Nematode parasite causing trichinosis

Undercooked pork, wild game

Cook pork to 71 °C; freeze game

Wild boar sausages undercooked

Giardia lamblia

Biological

Protozoan causing giardiasis

Well water, fresh produce

Boil or filter water; wash produce

Private well contamination

Chemical Hazards

Chemical hazards range from heavy metals and environmental pollutants to natural toxins and allergens. Control relies on source monitoring, proper labeling, and strict process controls.


Toxic Elements

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Lead

Chemical

Heavy metal causing neurotoxicity

Contaminated water, candies

Source testing; replace lead-soldered pipes

Lead-lined cans leaching into juice

Arsenic

Chemical

Toxic metalloid linked to cancer

Rice, well water

Use low-arsenic rice strains; treat water

Rice from contaminated paddy soils

Cadmium

Chemical

Renal toxin accumulating in kidneys

Leafy greens, shellfish

Monitor soil; restrict irrigation sources

Irrigation with industrial runoff

Mercury

Chemical

Neurotoxin (methylmercury)

Large predatory fish

Fish advisories; source from low-mercury stocks

Tuna harvested near polluted sites

Natural Toxins

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Aflatoxin

Chemical

Mycotoxin from Aspergillus species; carcinogenic

Peanuts, maize

Proper drying; storage < 13 % moisture

Warm, humid storage of peanuts

Patulin

Chemical

Mycotoxin in moldy fruits; gastrointestinal effects

Apple juice, sauces

Sort/discard moldy fruits

Juices made from blemished apples

Ochratoxin

Chemical

Mycotoxin from Aspergillus and Penicillium; nephrotoxic

Coffee, cereals

Bean sorting; moisture control

Stored coffee beans in damp warehouses

Fumonisin

Chemical

Mycotoxin in Fusarium-infected maize; hepatotoxic

Corn, corn products

Early harvest; dry storage

Cornmeal from wet harvest

Deoxynivalenol

Chemical

“Vomitoxin” from Fusarium on grains; emetic

Wheat, barley

Crop rotation; resistant varieties

Grain shipments from Fusarium-infested fields

Additives & Allergens

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Sulfite

Chemical

Preservative causing asthmatic reactions

Dried fruits, wine

Mandatory labeling; concentration limits

Undeclared sulfites in shrimp marinade

Gluten

Chemical

Wheat protein triggering celiac disease

Bread, pastry, sauces

Dedicated gluten-free lines; labeling

Cross-contact on shared slicers

Food allergens

Chemical

Proteins (e.g., peanuts, milk, eggs) causing anaphylaxis

Baked goods, sauces

Segregation; validated cleaning; clear labeling

Shared equipment not cleaned between batches

Environmental Contaminants

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Radionuclide

Chemical

Radioactive elements from fallout

Milk, leafy greens

Environmental monitoring; recalls

Produce harvested post-nuclear incident

Dioxins

Chemical

Persistent organic pollutants; immunotoxic

Animal fats, dairy

Emission controls; fat trimming

Cattle grazing near contaminated soil

Physical Hazards

Physical hazards are foreign objects that can injure consumers. Prevention hinges on strict facility design, equipment maintenance, and inspection protocols.

Hazard

Hazard Type

Description

Common Foods

Prevention

Failure Example

Glass

Physical

Shards from broken glassware or fixtures

Beverages, canned goods

Prohibit glass; use plastics; regular inspections

Broken light contaminating salad bar

Metal

Physical

Metal fragments from machinery wear

Processed meats, bakery

Magnetic separators; metal detectors

Grinder blade fragment in sausage

Hard plastic

Physical

Pieces from utensils or packaging

Prepared salads, snacks

Routine equipment checks; staff training

Cracked spatula end in potato salad

Effective food safety management begins with understanding the diverse array of hazards, biological, chemical, and physical that threaten our food supply. By identifying specific risks, applying targeted prevention measures, and learning from past failures, food businesses can strengthen their safety culture, protect consumers, and minimize costly recalls.


We would like to remind of our up-and-coming Food Safety Workshop Courses:


References:

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