What type of hazard is defined as a physical object in food?

A physical hazard refers to any foreign object that can accidentally become part of food and cause harm when ingested. This could include items such as glass fragments, metal shavings, plastic pieces, or even bones from meat. These objects can pose serious risks to consumers, leading to injury or choking.

Understanding physical hazards is crucial for food safety management. This knowledge helps food workers implement procedures to prevent such objects from entering food products, such as proper handling, equipment maintenance, and thorough inspection of ingredients and tools. In contrast, biological hazards involve pathogens like bacteria and viruses, chemical hazards pertain to harmful substances that may be present in food due to cleaning agents or pesticides, and environmental hazards usually relate to external factors like air quality and contamination processes but do not specifically refer to physical objects within food.