What is Cross Contamination?

There are various different methods of cross contamination that can occur throughout the food supply chain. In the broadest terms, cross contamination is defined as the unintentional transfer of harmful matter from one object to another.

Each year 600 million people around the world are estimated to contract a foodborne illness. By avoiding cross contamination many of these cases of foodborne illnesses could have been avoided completely.

The process of serving safe food is simplified when adhering to established food safety guidelines. Additional best practice tips including hand washing and food storage techniques help your restaurant always serve safe food to your customers.

Preventing cross contamination not only decreases the risk of food poisoning for customers but it also potentially avoids expensive food safety compliance violations and even potential business shutdowns. Understanding how harmful bacteria spread and providing customers with safe food should always be a restaurant's top priority.

Although many people wrongly assume that cross contamination occurs solely at a restaurant establishment, there are various points in the food supply chain to be wary of including-

• Food storage
• Food preparation
• Handling food
• Food distribution
• Transporting food

Understanding that cross contamination occurs at various stages of food production has prompted the creation and implementation of strict food safety legislation and guidelines. Preventing cross contamination has become a public health concern not only in the United States but around the entire world.