Food contaminant

A food contaminant is a harmful chemical or microorganism present in food, which can cause illness to the consumer.

This article is about the chemical contamination of food. For microbiological contamination, see Foodborne illness.
Food safety
Terms
Critical factors
Bacterial pathogens
Viral pathogens
Parasitic pathogens


The impact of chemical contaminants on consumer health and well-being is often apparent only after many years of processing and prolonged exposure at low levels (e.g., cancer). Unlike food-borne pathogens, chemical contaminants present in foods are often unaffected by thermal processing. Chemical contaminants can be classified according to the source of contamination and the mechanism by which they enter the food product.

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