What should you do if you suspect food is contaminated?

If you suspect food is contaminated, the appropriate action is to discard the food and report the incident to management. This approach ensures that potentially hazardous food is removed from the serving area, thus preventing any risk of foodborne illnesses. By discarding the food, you eliminate the possibility of serving unsafe products to customers. Additionally, reporting the incident to management enables further investigation and actions to address the underlying issue, whether it be a problem with sourcing, storage, or handling. This step not only protects the health and safety of consumers but also promotes a culture of food safety within the establishment.

While serving the food after cooking may seem like a solution, cooking may not eliminate all types of contamination, particularly chemical or certain types of toxins. Storing the food in a separate area also poses risks, as there could still be cross-contamination, and notifying customers without addressing the issue does not mitigate the risk to their health.