Physical hazard — Food Safety Glossary

A foreign object in food that could cause injury or illness, such as glass, metal, plastic, stones or hair.

Frequently asked questions

What are examples of physical hazards in food?

Glass, metal fragments, hard plastic, stones, bone, pest debris, and personal items such as jewellery, buttons, plasters or hair that fall into food during handling.

How do physical hazards get into food?

From raw ingredients, from equipment that breaks or wears, from packaging, from the premises such as broken glass or flaking paint, and from food handlers and their clothing or jewellery.

How can a business prevent physical hazards?

Maintain equipment and premises, use shatterproof materials, keep glass away from food, inspect deliveries, enforce jewellery and hair rules, and use sieves, magnets or detectors where appropriate.

What should staff do if glass breaks near food?

Stop work in the area, isolate and discard any food that could have been affected, clean up the glass thoroughly, and check surrounding surfaces before resuming to make sure no fragments remain.

Are physical hazards always visible?

Often, but not always. Small fragments can be hard to see or hidden in food, so prevention through good practices and controls is more reliable than relying on spotting them.

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