/
/
Physical hazards
Physical hazards are foreign objects or other hard materials in food that can cause injury when the food is eaten. Examples include pieces of glass, metal, hard plastic, wood, stones and other unexpected objects. Some naturally occurring materials, such as bone fragments or shell, can also present a physical hazard when their presence is unexpected.
Physical contaminants can enter food at many points during growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transportation, retail handling or preparation. Equipment damage or wear can introduce metal or plastic; broken containers can introduce glass; and raw agricultural ingredients may contain stones or other field material.
Possible injuries include broken or damaged teeth, cuts to the mouth or throat, choking, and—in more serious cases—laceration or perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. The risk depends on factors such as the object’s size, shape and hardness and on who consumes the food.
Food manufacturers use preventive controls and detection methods such as visual inspection, screens, filters, magnets, metal detectors and X-ray systems to reduce the risk of foreign material reaching consumers. If you find a foreign object in food, stop eating the product and preserve the food, object, packaging and identifying information such as the lot code in case the manufacturer or regulatory agency needs them.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Foods, Adulteration Involving Hard or Sharp Foreign Objects — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA guidance explaining the injury hazards associated with hard or sharp foreign objects in food and the factors FDA considers when evaluating these incidents.
Presence of Foreign Material in Meat or Poultry Products — USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Current USDA-FSIS guidance addressing foreign materials such as metal, plastic, rubber, glass, wood, steel and lead shot in meat and poultry products and how these hazards are considered in HACCP systems.
HACCP Principles & Application Guidelines — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA guidance describing physical-hazard considerations and preventive devices such as metal detectors, magnets, sifters, filters, screens and bone-removal equipment.
USDA Electronic Consumer Complaint Form — Food Safety and Inspection Service
USDA’s reporting system for problems involving meat, poultry and processed egg products, including foreign objects, injuries, allergic reactions and other food-safety concerns.
