Food contaminants

Meaning of Food Contaminants

Food contaminants are substances added intentionally or unintentionally to the food that makes it unfit for human consumption, such as animal droppings, biocides, disease causing microorganisms or insects, dust, pests, and other foreign bodies or impurities.

These contaminants may be present in food as a result of the various stages of its production, processing or transport. They might also result from environmental contamination.

Harmful Substances that Should Not be Consumed

These are some substances that should not be consumed because of their negative effect on human’s healthy. Examples of such substances are

1. Banned additives e.g. once used in bread making
2. Spoilt fruits
3. Under-cooked food,
4. Expired food products
5. Dented or bulging canned foods
6. Food grown in polluted environment, etc.

EVALUATION

1. Explain the concept “food contaminants”.
2. Mention five harmful substances that should not be consumed.