| Food safety |
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| Terms |
| Critical factors |
| Bacterial pathogens |
| Viral pathogens |
| Parasitic pathogens |
A food contaminant is a harmful chemical or microorganism present in food, which can cause illness to the consumer.
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.