Starbucks Food Safety Practice Exam

What is considered a physical hazard in food safety?

1. Foreign objects like hair or glass

2. Cleaning chemicals

3. Bacteria

4. Pest contamination

The correct answer is: Foreign objects like hair or glass

In food safety, a physical hazard is defined as any foreign object that can inadvertently contaminate food and potentially cause injury or illness to consumers. Foreign objects can include things like hair, glass, metal shavings, plastic pieces, or even bone fragments. These contaminants pose a risk because they can cause choking, cuts, or other physical harm when ingested. While cleaning chemicals, bacteria, and pest contamination are also significant concerns in food safety, they fall into different categories. Cleaning chemicals are classified as chemical hazards, which refer to harmful substances that can contaminate food. Bacteria are biological hazards that can lead to foodborne illnesses but do not fit into the category of physical hazards. Pest contamination similarly involves living organisms, which also categorize it as a biological hazard rather than a physical one. Understanding the distinctions between these types of hazards is essential for implementing effective food safety practices.