What does contamination in food refer to?

Contamination in food refers specifically to the presence of harmful substances that can pose health risks to consumers. This includes physical contaminants like glass or metal fragments, biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, and chemical contaminants from pesticides or food additives. Understanding that contamination is primarily about harmful substances highlights the importance of food safety practices aimed at preventing health hazards.

The other choices touch on related concepts but do not define contamination accurately. For instance, the absence of safe handling practices may lead to contamination, but it does not define what contamination itself is. Similarly, spoilage of food due to time refers more to quality degradation rather than the presence of harmful substances. Lastly, failing to follow cooking guidelines is a method of food preparation that could potentially lead to bacterial contamination, but it doesn’t encapsulate the broader concept of contamination itself.