What are physical hazards in food safety?

Physical hazards in food safety refer specifically to foreign objects that accidentally get into food. These can include items such as glass shards, metal fragments, plastic pieces, or even natural objects like bones or shells that are not typical ingredients in a dish. The presence of such hazards poses a risk of injury to consumers, as they can cause cuts, choking, or other physical harm when ingested.

Understanding physical hazards is crucial for food handlers because it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clean and safe food preparation environment, where the risk of such unwanted objects contaminating food can be minimized. Identifying and addressing these hazards is a key aspect of food safety protocols and helps safeguard public health.