What should be done if food is found to be contaminated?

When food is found to be contaminated, the best course of action is to discard it immediately. This is crucial because consuming contaminated food can pose serious health risks, including foodborne illnesses that may result from bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical contaminants.

Discarding contaminated food prevents any risk of it reaching consumers, which is essential for ensuring food safety in any food handling operation. Cooking contaminated food may not eliminate all harmful pathogens, as some bacteria are heat-resistant or toxins might not break down through cooking. Washing and reusing contaminated food is also unsafe, as washing may not remove all contaminants, and there's a risk that the food could still be harmful when consumed. Selling contaminated food at a discount not only compromises customer safety but can also lead to legal liability and damage to the establishment's reputation.

By prioritizing the immediate disposal of contaminated food, food handlers ensure that they are upholding the highest standards of safety and health in food service.