What is a physical contaminant?

• A. A chemical residue.
• B. An allergen.
• C. A tangible object that can cause injury.
• D. A microorganism.

Answer: (C)

Physical contaminants are foreign objects in food that you can see or feel and that can cause injury if swallowed or chewed. The description of a tangible object that could injure someone fits this idea perfectly, covering items like glass, metal shards, plastic fragments, stones, hair, or packaging materials. This is what makes it a physical contaminant.

In contrast, chemical residues involve substances like cleaners or pesticides left behind and aren’t about a discrete object. An allergen refers to a protein that can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals, not a detachable object in the food. A microorganism is a living organism that can contaminate food, which is a biological hazard rather than a physical foreign body.