Starbucks Food Safety Practice Exam

What type of hazard is a contaminated food surface considered?

1. Physical Hazard

2. Chemical Hazard

3. Biological Hazard

4. Environmental Hazard

The correct answer is: Biological Hazard

A contaminated food surface is categorized as a biological hazard because it can harbor pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can contaminate food. These microorganisms can cause foodborne illnesses when they come into contact with food, leading to potential health risks for consumers. Ensuring that food surfaces are properly cleaned and sanitized is a critical practice in food safety to minimize these biological hazards. Physical hazards, on the other hand, involve foreign objects or materials that can cause harm or injury, such as shards of glass or plastic. Chemical hazards refer to harmful substances that may contaminate food, including pesticides or cleaning agents, while environmental hazards generally encompass a wider range of risks related to unsafe conditions in a food environment. Thus, when discussing surfaces where food is prepared or served, the primary concern is the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, which is why classifying a contaminated food surface as a biological hazard is accurate.