How can chemicals contaminate food?
* In the foodservice operation, chemicals can contaminate food in many ways. The most common way that chemicals find their way into food is through improper storage, where chemicals spill or drip into food products and ice. Employees using chemicals near open food can cause food to become contaminated by drips or overspray. * Chemicals can also contaminate food and food contact surfaces if they are used at concentrations that are too high. An example of this would be sanitizer. In most cases, sanitizers are not meant to be rinsed off of dishes and utensils. If the concentration of the sanitizer is too high, a toxic chemical residue can remain on the dish and can be passed on to the guest who eats from that dish. * Lubricants can also cause problems if they are not food-grade when used on food contact surfaces like electric mixers and frozen drink or dessert machines. Where should chemicals be stored? * Chemicals should always be stored away from food and food contact surfaces. This mea
