CROSS CONTAMINATION AND
HOW TO PREVENT IT
MELISSA SCOTT
KAPLAN UNIVERSITY
DECEMBER 2014

JUST WHAT IS CROSS
CONTAMINATION ?
CROSS CONTAMINATION OCCURS WHEN
HARMFUL BACTERIA IS TRANSFERRED FROM ONE
PERSON, PLACE, OR OBJECT THROUGH PHYSICAL
MOVEMENT, TO ANOTHER
PERSON, PLACE, OR OBJECT.

Where and How does Cross Contamination
Happen?

Food can become contaminated in a variety of ways.
Some of the biggest offenders for contamination are:
•

Inadequate

Hand Washing

• Incorrect Storage and Cooking Temperatures
• Food Preparer touching contaminated foods and then touches food ready to eat
• Food that is ready to be eaten touches a contaminated surface • Food or food drippings touch ready to eat food
• Contaminated ingredients are put into food that is

LET'S
PREVENT
CROSS
CONTAMINAT
ION!!

STEPS TO PREVENT CROSS
PROPER HAND
CONTAMINATION.
SEPARATE AND STORE
WASHING &
USE A SYSTEM IN YOUR
HYGIENE
"EMPLOYEES ARE THE
MOST IMPORTANT
LINK IN PREVENTING
FOODBORNE ILLNESS.
GOOD PERSONAL
HYGIENE, INCLUDING
PROPER AND
FREQUENT HAND
WASHING IS THE BEST
WAY TO PREVENT
FOODBORNE
ILLNESS." RETRIEVED
FROM THE INTERNET
DECEMBER 15, 2014
HTTP://WWW.HEALTH.ST
ATE.MN.US/DIVS/EH/FO

FOODS APPROPRIATELY

PREP AREA

"BACTERIA CAN
SPREAD THROUGH
CROSS-CONTAMINATIO
N
. THIS OCCURS WHEN
RAW MEAT, POULTRY,
SEAFOOD AND EGGS
COME IN CONTACT
WITH READY-TO-EAT
FOODS LIKE BREAD
AND VEGETABLES, SO
KEEP THEM
SEPARATE." RETRIEVED
FROM THE INTERNET
DECEMBER 15, 2014
HTTP://HOMEFOODSAF
ETY.ORG/SEPARATE

"CROSS-CONTAMINATION IS THE
TRANSFER OF HARMFUL
BACTERIA TO FOOD FROM OTHER
FOODS, CUTTING BOARDS,
UTENSILS, ETC., IF THEY ARE NOT
HANDLED PROPERLY. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN
HANDLING RAW MEAT, POULTRY,
AND SEAFOOD, SO KEEP THESE
FOODS AND THEIR JUICES