Texas Food Safety Managers Practice Test

If a food handler is observed emptying a vial of unknown liquid onto salad greens, this could be considered an example of what?

1. Biological contamination

2. Food tampering

3. Cross-contamination

4. Physical contamination

The correct answer is: Food tampering

This scenario exemplifies food tampering due to the intentional act of a food handler emptying an unknown liquid onto salad greens. Food tampering refers to the deliberate alteration or contamination of food products, typically with the intention to harm consumers or compromise food integrity. In this case, the unknown liquid could be a harmful substance, indicating a malicious intent that goes beyond accidental contamination or food safety violations. This action poses a significant risk to public health, as the safety of the salad greens is compromised by an unknown and potentially toxic substance. Understanding that food tampering involves intentional actions helps distinguish it from other types of contamination, such as biological or physical contamination, which typically arise from unintentional actions or environmental factors rather than a deliberate attempt to alter food safety.