Which is an example of a physical hazard?

• A. Glass, metal, or bone
• B. Bacteria
• C. Pest control products
• D. Allergen residues

Answer: (A)

Physical hazards are foreign objects in food that can injure someone or cause choking. Glass, metal, or bone are classic examples because they’re not part of the edible product and can accidentally end up in food during processing, packaging, or handling. If swallowed, these objects can cut or damage the mouth, throat, or digestive tract, or cause choking. The other options describe hazards that aren’t physical objects: bacteria are living microorganisms that cause illness (biological hazard); pest control products involve chemicals that can contaminate food (chemical hazard); allergen residues relate to immune reactions from proteins and are a different type of contaminant, not a foreign object. So the best example of a physical hazard is glass, metal, or bone.