California eFoodHandlers Practice Exam

What is the best example of biological contamination?

1. A sick food worker coughs onto a prepared sandwich

2. Using dirty utensils

3. Adding too much spice to a dish

4. Cooking food at the wrong temperature

The correct answer is: A sick food worker coughs onto a prepared sandwich

Biological contamination refers to the presence of harmful microorganisms or toxins in food. Out of the given choices, only option A accurately represents a scenario where a person with a contagious illness is directly contaminating food by coughing onto a prepared sandwich. Options B, C, and D could also contribute to foodborne illness, but they are not specifically related to the presence of harmful microorganisms or toxins. Using dirty utensils could lead to cross-contamination, while adding too much spice and cooking at the wrong temperature could lead to chemical and physical contamination, respectively. Therefore, A is the best example of biological contamination because it directly involves the introduction of illness-causing pathogens into the food.