Cross contamination of food is a common factor in the cause of food borne illness. The transfer of harmful substances or disease-causing microorganisms to food by hands, food-contact surfaces, sponges, cloth towels and utensils that touch raw food, are not cleaned, and then touch ready-to-eat foods. Cross-contamination can also occur when raw food touches or drips onto cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
Cross contamination of food is a common factor in the cause of food borne illness. Foods can become contaminated by microorganisms ( bacteria and viruses) from many different sources during the food preparation and storage process. Preventing cross contamination is one step to help eliminate food borne illness.
Cross contamination is the contamination of a food product from another source. There are three main ways cross contamination can occur:
Food to Food
Food can become contaminated by bacteria from other foods. This type of cross contamination is especially dangerous if raw foods come into contact with cooked food
Exapmle: Raw chicken placed on a grill touching a steak that is being cooked.
People to Food
People can also be a source of cross contamination to foods
Example: Handling foods after using the toilet without properly washing your hands
Equipment to Food
Contamination can also be passed from kitchen equipment and utensils to food. This type of contamination occurs because the equipment or utensils were not properly cleaned and sanitized between each use.
Example: Using cutting boards and the same knife when cutting different types of foods, such as cutting raw chicken followed by salad preparation
Preventing Cross Contamination
Follow these steps to prevent cross contamination and reduce hazards to food:
Wash your hands between handling different foods.
Wash and sanitize all equipment and utensils that come in contact with food.
Try preparing each type of food at different times and then clean and sanitize food contact surfaces between each task.
Store foods properly by separating washed or prepared foods from unwashed or raw foods.
Cross Contamination