What can be classified as a physical hazard?

A physical hazard in food safety refers to any foreign object that can accidentally be introduced into food, which can potentially cause harm to consumers. Natural objects like bones in food are a prime example of physical hazards. These can cause choking, cuts, or other injuries if someone bites into them unexpectedly.

In contrast, the condition of food across the supply chain relates more to quality and foodborne illness factors rather than being a tangible object that poses immediate physical risk. The presence of toxic metals falls under chemical hazards, as these involve harmful substances that can have toxicological effects on health when ingested. Lastly, foodborne pathogens pertain to biological hazards; these are microorganisms that can cause disease but do not represent physical threats like an object would. Thus, natural objects such as bones explicitly meet the definition of a physical hazard.