Information on Food Contaminants & Food Poisoning

Biological contaminants include disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, which cause foodborne illnesses. 

Chemical contaminants can be organic or inorganic. Organic chemical contaminants include, but are not limited to, environmental and processed contaminants, toxins, drug residues, pesticide residues, food allergens, and migratable harmful chemicals from food contact materials. Besides organic chemical contaminants, there are also inorganic and radiochemical contaminants, including, but not limited to, heavy metals and food radionuclides. 

Physical contaminants include foreign materials such as glass, metal, and plastic. They can be introduced along the supply chain e.g. imports, local farms, food processing plants, etc.